A FLAT fire in Hook that left one man dead was caused by “careless disposal of cigarettes”, an investigation has found.

Fire crews were called to a ground floor flat at the Gregory House housing complex, in Elms Road, just after 2pm last Friday.

Barry Burtonwood, 67, was found in the lounge of the one-bedroom flat, and despite CPR from fire crews and then paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Flowers have been left at the window of Mr Burtonwood’s flat.

Laura Pauley, senior communications officer at Hampshire Fire and Rescue, said an investigation found the most likely cause of the fire was “careless disposal of cigarettes”. The police are not treating the fire as suspicious.

Fire crews from Odiham and Basingstoke put out the fire. An air ambulance was called and landed in the doctor’s surgery car park in Reading Road, but was not needed.

The flat was one of 39 at the sheltered housing complex, which is run by Sentinel Housing Association for elderly or infirm people.

Val Bagnall, Sentinel customer service director, said: “We are all saddened by the death of a resident at Gregory House.

“A smoke detector was activated at 2.12pm on Friday afternoon and the fire service was called at 2.13pm. Their prompt response ensured the fire was brought under control and damage caused by the fire was restricted to the resident’s flat.”

Andrew Bradley, coroner for north east Hampshire, has opened and adjourned an inquest into Mr Burtonwood’s death.