Mother loses four children in blaze

Tributes have been paid to four “lovely” children who died in a fire at their home following a party to celebrate their mother’s birthday.

Reece Smith, 19, his four-year-old twin sisters Holly and Ella, and brother Jordan, two, died after a blaze broke out at their converted bungalow on Saturday night. The four victims were taken to hospital, but were all later pronounced dead.

Their mother, Michelle Smith, 36, who has five other children, was led out of the house by firefighters and was not thought to be injured. Yesterday, her father, Keith Smith, 56, said his daughter was staying with relatives in the area.

“It’s very shocking, these are such tragic circumstances,” he said. “I don’t know anything about what happened last night. They have lived here for about two-and-a-half years – this was their grandmother’s former home. I haven’t had a chance to speak to Michelle yet. It is just terrible.

“I last saw them all just after Christmas. I can’t think of any reason why this has happened. It has just come as a big shock.”

Sources said that a birthday party took place at the house in Lytham Road, Freckleton, Lancashire, on Saturday night and it appeared those who got out safely were downstairs when the fire broke out.

Phil Cox, group manager for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said the service was called to the scene at about 11:20pm. He said that members of the public rang to say that people – including small children – were trapped in the building as three fire engines were en route.

“As soon as the crews arrived it seemed quite a chaotic scene with a lot of people outside quite distressed,” he said. Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued the four casualties while another person who did not need medical attention was led out, said Mr Cox.

“As soon as they were brought out it was a multi-agency approach to commence resuscitation,” he said. “We would like to pass on our condolences to the family of the victims. It is a tragic situation that we have ended up here today.

“Subsequently there is now a full police and fire investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident and try to piece together what happened last night.”

It is thought that some of the casualties were taken from a small room upstairs at the rear of the converted bungalow.

At the front of the property there was no apparent damage caused by the blaze and the scene was cordoned off while forensic officers begin their investigations.

A number of floral tributes had been left outside. One read: “Michelle I’m sorry for your loss, with deepest sympathy. Love Becky Bashford and family xxx.”

Family friend Carolyn Milburn said Reece was the eldest child and Jordan the youngest of Michelle Smith.

She said: “It’s knocked us all for six. They were all lovely, all of them. Lovely kids, well behaved, well brought-up, always happy. Michelle is a good mum. She loves her kids.

“I haven’t spoken to her yet, but her and her mother Christine are both in a state. She is in bits over this. The twins were beautiful, gorgeous kids. They were all smashing kids.”

Detective Superintendent Andy Murphy, of Lancashire Constabulary’s major investigation team, said: “We are trying to establish the cause of this fire. We are keeping an open mind at this stage as to what happened.”