Christmas lights suspected as fire kills five
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Investigators sifted through the charred remains of a house fire that killed a family of five amid fears that it may have been started by Christmas lights.
The victims of Saturday's fire in Hayes, west London, included a father in his early forties, a mother in her mid-thirties, two daughters and a son, all aged under 10.
London Fire Brigade investigators believe that Christmas decorations, including a large number of lights inside and outside the semi-detached house, could have ignited the flames.
Mazin Daod, a fire service spokesman, said: "This time of year, candles and lights are brought down from the loft and dusted off. Christmas trees can be a real hazard. You have got so much additional fuel. At this stage, it is difficult to tell how the fire started because of the level of destruction, but we are looking into every possibility."
Police said the fatal blaze was being treated as non-suspicious. Formal identification has yet to take place and efforts are still being made to trace the family's next of kin.
Neighbours said the parents had moved to Britain from Mauritius before starting a family together. Isabel Kiflie, 31,said that she had known the family well and their children used to play together.
"The children were just so lovely. They came over last Sunday to see my new baby and the nine-year-old was so excited because she wanted to spend Christmas with my baby," she said.
"They were the nicest family, friendly with everyone. I just cannot believe it."
Mrs Kiflie was among neighbours who tried to put out the flames with a garden hose before the fire brigade arrived.
"I was so scared," she said. "It was really loud and when I was standing here there was an explosion and all the windows broke. We tried to use a hose but it was so hot and nothing stopped it."
Mrs Kiflie said she had become friendly with the family when she was pregnant earlier this year. "The little boy used to come and play with my son."
The fire brigade was called to the house just before 3am and 20 firefighters spent nearly two hours fighting the blaze, which had spread throughout the two-storey building.
Mr Daod said his officers had found two adults and a child downstairs and two other children upstairs, but by the time they arrived nothing could be done for them. "Especially when you come across children, it is hard." The bodies were removed from the house on Saturday night.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments