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A house fire that killed a Wallasey man and his dog earlier this week was caused by a candle, investigators have confirmed.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, fire crews were called to the home of Mark Fawke on Beaufort Drive in Wallasey on October 19. Firefighters arrived just after 8:40 pm to see the ground floor of the house alight, as well as smoke coming from the upper floor.
Mark Fawke, a local football coach at Wallasey Youth Football Club was named as the victim, alongside his dog, who also died at the scene.
A joint investigation between Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police found the fire was caused by a candle, which was revealed on 21 October. Data provided by the MFRS Between October 2025, and September 2026, revealed there were 33 accidental dwelling fires across Merseyside caused by candles. Of these incidents, 61% (20) occurred during the colder months between November and April, with a majority taking place between 5pm and 6am.
MFRS Head of Prevention Kevin Johnson said: "This is a tragic incident. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who lost his life. Candles can create a warm and relaxing atmosphere in the home, particularly as the evenings get darker and winter approaches. However, if they are not used safely, they can quickly start a fire with devastating consequences."
He urged people to never leave a lit candle unattended, always extinguish them when leaving a room or going to bed, and keep candles well away from anything that could catch fire.
The fire service is urging residents to ensure they have working smoke alarms on every level of their home, keep exit routes clear, and close doors at night.
You can read safety advice on burning candles here: Stay safe with candles | Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.
