Coronial
VIChome

Finding into death of Marko Kelentric

Deceased

Marko Kelentric

Demographics

73y, male

Coroner

Coroner Audrey Jamieson

Date of death

2020-08-12

Finding date

2026-03-04

Cause of death

Effects of fire

AI-generated summary

A 73-year-old man died in a residential fire in rural Victoria. He was found unresponsive in his bedroom and declared deceased after fire rescue and paramedic resuscitation attempts. Autopsy confirmed death from smoke inhalation (carboxyhaemoglobin 65%, hydrogen cyanide 0.9 mg/L) and thermal injuries. The coroner found the fire was likely caused by direct ignition of improperly stored petrol in the lounge room. Critical preventability factors included: (1) both smoke alarms in the home had batteries removed, rendering them inoperable; (2) severe hoarding (clutter level 8) blocked egress and impeded firefighter access; (3) flammable liquids were stored unsafely throughout the property. The coroner determined this death was preventable through proper smoke alarm maintenance, safer fuel storage practices, and addressing hoarding. No clinical medical care failures were identified; prevention focused on fire safety infrastructure and environmental hazards.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Error types

system

Drugs involved

amitriptylinenortriptylineamlodipinemetoprolol

Clinical conditions

smoke inhalationcarbon monoxide poisoningthermal burnscardiomegalycoronary artery atherosclerosis

Contributing factors

  • Inoperable smoke alarms due to removed batteries
  • Severe hoarding and clutter (CIRS level 8 in bedroom)
  • Improperly stored petrol in multiple uncapped containers
  • Blocked egress due to accumulated clutter
  • Direct ignition of combustible materials in lounge room
  • Petrol vapours from wine bottle ignited by heat from primary fire
  • Underlying cardiac disease (cardiomegaly and coronary artery atherosclerosis)

Coroner's recommendations

  1. Department of Families, Fairness and Housing should reconvene the Hoarding and Squalor Taskforce to promote best practice and inter-agency responses
  2. Department of Families, Fairness and Housing should update and reissue the 2013 publication 'Hoarding and squalor: a practical resource for service providers'
  3. Victorian Government should consult with Fire Rescue Victoria and Country Fire Authority to improve smoke alarm requirements within the Victorian Building Regulations
  4. Victorian Government should consult with Fire Rescue Victoria and Country Fire Authority to introduce auditable regulatory compliance inspection process for domestic smoke alarms as part of residential property sales
  5. Victorian Building Authority should publish guidance clarifying who can design, install and certify home fire sprinklers to the FPAA101D specification
  6. Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action should work with Victorian water authorities to develop policies streamlining approval for cost-effective installation of water meters meeting pressure and flow requirements for home fire sprinklers
  7. Department of Transport and Planning and Australian Building Codes Board should conduct research into adopting home fire sprinklers to FPAA101D specification within the National Construction Code where not currently required
Full text
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Source and disclaimer

This page reproduces or summarises information from publicly available findings published by Australian coroners' courts. Coronial is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any coronial court or government body.

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