William and Marlene Mumford tragically lost their lives in a fire at their home on December 12, following an explosion linked to a portable gas heater. An inquest revealed that a mechanical failure likely caused the gas leak, which led to the blaze engulfing their residence.
The fire was so intense that flames rose above the height of the house, and emergency services faced challenges entering the property due to the damage. The coroner ruled the deaths as accidental, resulting from an unintended act during an attempt to manage the gas cylinder.