The devastating aftermath of a fatal fire in Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, has left a Gloucestershire police officer grieving the loss of his wife and two children. The blaze erupted at around 3 a.m. while the family slept in their Cotswold stone mid-terrace cottage.
Fire crews arrived to find the house well ablaze, with the fire rapidly engulfing the property. Despite efforts by the father, a serving Gloucestershire Police officer, and his wife to reach their children who were in a rear bedroom, they were unable to access them due to the fire’s intensity.
In a desperate attempt to save his children, the father broke a bathroom window to reach the bedroom from outside but was blocked by the advancing flames. Trapped outside and unable to re-enter the house via any door or window, he had to watch helplessly as the fire consumed the home.
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Tragically, the mother, a woman in her late 30s, and the two children—a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy—did not survive. Firefighters recovered the mother’s body from the house, and one child’s body was located at the scene; efforts continue to safely recover the second child amid unstable conditions. The fire caused the roof to collapse and extensive damage to the ceilings and stairs, making the structure unsafe.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton described the conditions faced by fire crews as “extremely challenging” due to the severe development of the fire upon arrival. Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher confirmed that the blaze is not being treated as suspicious, with initial investigations indicating the fire likely started on the ground floor.
The police community has rallied around the grieving officer, offering support during this heartbreaking time. Gloucestershire Police Federation expressed profound sympathy for their colleague, emphasizing the unimaginable nature of the tragedy and the extensive support being provided.
This tragic incident, which occurred during the early hours of Boxing Day, has deeply affected the local community and the police service, highlighting the profound human cost of such unforeseen disasters.