Mother and Two Children Tragically Killed in Boxing Day Fire Near Stroud

In the early hours of Boxing Day, a devastating house fire claimed the lives of a mother and her two young children in Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud.

The tragic blaze broke out around 3 a.m. in a mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage, engulfing the property and causing its roof, ceilings, and stairs to collapse. Gloucestershire Police confirmed that the mother, a woman in her late 30s, and her children—a four-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl—did not survive the fire.

The father, a serving Gloucestershire police officer, managed to escape but was left unable to rescue his family despite desperate attempts. Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher described the harrowing scene, explaining that the family had been awakened by the fire and tried to reach the children’s rear bedroom. However, the intensity of the flames prevented their access.

The officer smashed a bathroom window to try reaching the children from outside but was thwarted by the fire’s rapid spread, trapping him outside that area. He then unsuccessfully tried to re-enter through multiple entry points before emergency services arrived.

Promptly responding firefighters found the house well alight, facing a fierce and well-developed fire. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton praised their efforts to enter the building and attempt rescues despite the dangerous conditions, adding that they continue to provide recovery support in light of the fatalities.

Police have stated that the fire appears to be a tragic accident with no suspicious circumstances and investigations into the cause are ongoing.

The Gloucestershire Police Federation extended heartfelt condolences to the injured officer and his colleagues, offering support during this unimaginable tragedy. The family’s loss has deeply affected the police community and the wider public, underscoring the grim reality faced by first responders when disaster strikes close to home.