A man has passed away after emollient cream made his clothes more flammable and were set alight by a gas heater.
Jim Rownsley, of Kempton Gardens, is believed to have died after residue from the cream created a serious fire risk which he was not aware of.
Three fire engines attended to the incident on 20 February, where a thorough investigation was carried out.
Sherrie-Leigh Higgins, Jim’s granddaughter, said: “You never think something like this is going to happen to your family until it does.
“My grandad always used his gas heater to stay warm but we didn’t know that the cream he used for his legs could be so dangerous.”
Jim’s family are now committed to making more people aware of the dangers after losing their beloved grandad.
Emollient cream is used to treat common conditions like eczema and comes in forms such as lotions, gels and sprays, and many are unaware of the dangers.
Chris Tyler, Group Manager in South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s community safety team, said: “As a service, we fully recognise the effectiveness and importance of emollient creams, and we also recognise that they are not flammable on their own.
“However, a build-up of emollient cream residue on fabrics such as bedding, clothing, and dressings can make these already combustible items even more flammable.
“What this means is that in cases where somebody uses these creams on a regular basis and/or spends an extended amount of time in their bed or armchair, their fire risk can increase dramatically.”