Firefighters are continuing their efforts to recover the bodies of two children following a tragic house fire on Boxing Day near Stroud. The blaze claimed the lives of a mother and her two young children at their home on Brimscombe Hill in the early hours of the morning.
The fire ignited around 3 a.m., trapping the family inside their mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage. The father, a serving officer with Gloucestershire Police, and his wife woke to the fire and attempted to rescue their children located in a rear bedroom. However, the intensity of the fire prevented them from reaching the children.
The father managed to escape by breaking through a bathroom window and tried to access the children’s bedroom from outside, but the advancing fire blocked him. After repeated attempts to re-enter the property via multiple points, he was forced to evacuate and call for emergency services.
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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. The mother’s body has been recovered, and one child’s body has been found; authorities continue to search for the second child’s remains.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton described the scene as extremely challenging, citing the rapid development of the fire and the structural collapse of ceilings, stairs, and the roof, which rendered the property unstable.
The Gloucestershire Police Federation expressed deep sorrow over the loss, emphasizing the support being provided to the surviving officer during this unimaginable tragedy. They noted the collective grief felt across the police family and wider community.
Investigation into the fire indicates it started on the ground floor, and authorities do not suspect any foul play. Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher highlighted the anguish endured by the father, who struggled desperately to save his family amid the uncontrollable fire.
“This tragic incident has occurred at a time meant for celebration,” Fletcher remarked, extending condolences to the grief-stricken officer and all who knew the family. Emergency services remain committed to supporting the recovery efforts and understanding the cause behind this heartbreaking event.