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2 months ago
16
9 minutes ago
By Yunus Mulla & Rachael Lazaro, BBC News, Lancashire
BBC/Yunus Mulla
The fire started in the early hours of the morning, police say
A man and a woman have died and their two children have been injured in a house fire in Blackpool.
The blaze broke out on Peter Street in the town shortly before 02:40 BST, Lancashire Police said.
A woman in her 20s died at the scene while a man, also in his 20s, was pronounced dead at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Their children have been taken to hospital for treatment and one is in a "very poorly condition", the force added.
PA/Peter Byrne
The mother died in the house while the father was taken to hospital but died a short time later, police say
PA/Peter Byrne
Some other properties were evacuated while police investigate
Detectives are working with the fire service to establish the cause of the blaze at the family's home.
The force said it was keeping an "open mind" at this stage about how it started.
It added there had been no arrests.
A small number of homes have been evacuated while the investigation is carried out.
Officers will leave "absolutely no stone unturned" in the inquiry, Ch Supt Mike Gladwin said.
He said his thoughts were with the family's loved ones at this "extremely distressing time".
BBC/Yunus Mulla
A police officer stands guard on Peter Street
A nearby resident, Jade Hartill, told BBC North West Tonight she "keeps crying" since witnessing the fire.
She said her sister-in-law alerted her to the blaze after she heard a big bang and they went outside.
"It's something you can't forget," she said.
"The dad was shouting, 'help, help' and we couldn't help because the fire was absolutely crazy."
She said then it "just went silent".
"I'll never get that out my head. It's just tragic."
BBC/Yunus Mulla
Flowers have been left outside of the family's home
Ch Supt Gladwin said the "tragic news will be met with great sadness in the local community and people will want instant answers" but he warned against "unhelpful and upsetting speculation".
“There are grieving loved ones still trying to come to terms with this devastating news," he said.
He appealed for anyone with information or who captured anything on their CCTV, doorbell or dashcam to contact the force.
