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Stanley house fire murders: Dad and daughter killed | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man died while trying in vain to rescue his daughter when their house was deliberately set alight in Wakefield, police have said. | |
Andrew Broadhead, 42, and eight-year-old Kiera died in the blaze at their home in Ash Crescent, Stanley, on Wednesday. | |
Detectives said Mr Broadhead got out of the property but went back to "save Kiera who was trapped inside" the fire. | |
They believe an "accelerant was poured through the letterbox". | |
More on this story and others from West Yorkshire | More on this story and others from West Yorkshire |
A woman aged 35 and a 13-year-old girl who were also in the house were treated in hospital before being discharged. | |
Police think the arsonist may have been injured because the fire took hold so quickly. | |
They appealed to people who had seen anyone with suspicious burns to contact the force. | |
Det Ch Insp Nicola Bryar, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "This is a terrible incident which has robbed a family of a husband and their youngest daughter. | |
"The seat of the fire appears to have been by the front door and we are investigating the possibility that an accelerant was poured through the letter box. | |
"We know that this fire took hold extremely quickly and it is possible that the person who set this fire was themselves burned in doing so. | |
"Have you seen anyone with burns or burn injuries in the last 24 hours in circumstances which you found suspicious? | |
"If so, then please contact us as a matter of urgency." | |
Firefighters were called to the scene at about 04:20 BST. | |
Ch Sup Mabs Hussain, of Wakefield District Police, said: "It cannot be overstated how devastating this fire has been for the local community in Stanley. | |
"Several of our officers working on the inquiry have also been significantly and understandably affected by this tragedy." | |
Rachel Mace, Kiera's teaching assistant at Stanley St Peter's Primary School, paid tribute to "a vibrant and confident little girl" who was "quite a delight to know". | |
A fundraising page has been raising money for the bereaved family. |