Chapter 5: A Dropped Cigarette?

900 Degrees

The inquiry which examined the Bradford City Stadium Fire didn't name anybody as being responsible for starting the blaze. But it did find that the fire was started accidentally - likely via a dropped cigarette.

But how strong was the evidence? And did the investigation look into any of Stafford Heginbotham's previous fires?

Mobeen investigates the testimony from fans who were sitting right where the fire started. And we hear from a fire investigator who has some lingering questions about the inquiry’s conclusions.

But in 2015, a retired police detective went on TV and told the watching public that he found the man who admitted dropping the cigarette that started the fire. Case closed? Well - not quite. Mobeen uncovers some startling gaps and counter-claims which question this version of events. And he unpacks a paradox, where not everyone can be telling the truth.

900 Degrees is a What's The Story original podcast series. What's The Story are the leaders in premium true-crime podcasts and audio story-telling.

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