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Mother and daughter die in fire Mother and daughter die in fire
(40 minutes later)
A mother and daughter have died in a house blaze which injured three other children and two firefighters.A mother and daughter have died in a house blaze which injured three other children and two firefighters.
The victims were named locally as Michelle and Courtenay Thomas. Police said they were aged 32 and four.The victims were named locally as Michelle and Courtenay Thomas. Police said they were aged 32 and four.
Neighbours said the boys hurt at the house in the Townhill area of Swansea on Thursday evening are the girl's brothers, aged 15, 12 and nine. Neighbours said the boys hurt at the house in Townhill, Swansea, on Thursday evening are the girl's brothers. One, aged 12, is critically ill.
There are reports that the mother got two boys out before going back into the house for her daughter. There are reports that the mother got two of the boys out before going back into the house for her daughter.
Emergency crews were called to the house in Gwent Gardens at 1810 BST. The other brothers are aged 15 and nine.
An investigation is under way into the cause of the fire, although there is no suggestion that it was suspicious. The 12-year-old suffered 30% burns and the effects of smoke inhalation. He is on a ventilator at the city's Morriston Hospital, said Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust.
The two firefighters were taken to the city's Morriston Hospital with minor injuries and have since been discharged. All the family is devastated by this tragic event Denis Sullivan, family member
He underwent emergency surgery overnight and is expected to receive further surgery.
The trust said his two brothers also suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation and the nine-year-old had been treated for minor burns.
A family member, Denis Sullivan, said: "All the family is devastated by this tragic event. We would ask the press and media to respect our privacy as we try and come to terms with the tragedy."
Emergency crews were called to the house in Gwent Gardens at 1810 BST on Thursday.
The two firefighters were taken to Morriston Hospital with minor injuries and have since been discharged.
The children's father was reported to have been at work at the time of the fire.The children's father was reported to have been at work at the time of the fire.
The reports that the mother got two of the boys out before going back into the house will be checked with a CCTV camera which is across the street from the property. The reports that the mother got two of the boys out before going back into the house will be checked with a CCTV camera which is across the street.
Det Insp Simon Davies of Swansea CID said: "We are working with fire and forensic investigators to establish a cause of the fire at Gwent Gardens in Townhill yesterday evening. Assistant chief fire officer Wyn Edwards, of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said hydrocarbon detector dogs were being deployed to determine whether accelerants played any part in the blaze.
"A trained family liaison officer is currently working to support the family at this tragic time." "At this stage there is no suggestion that anything suspicious happened," he said.
Back window "It is a tragic incident and we need to get to the bottom of it."
Leticia Gambatessa, who lives next door, said she was first aware of the blaze when she smelt smoke and heard the screams of the eldest boy. One neighbour reported hearing a big bang and said it could have been windows smashing.
Police and fire officers at the scene of the tragedy on Thursday night I heard the little girl was playing in the street and wanted to carry on playing but the mother brought her in just before it happened Tanya Staton, Townhill resident
"I went out to the back and he was dangling from a back window," she said. Dulcie Thomas said: "There was black smoke everywhere. It is unbelievable how quick it happened. In a matter of ten minutes the house was an inferno.
"I went to get a ladder to give it to him but by the time I came back he had jumped. "Some of the neighbours tried to put a ladder up to a window and kicked a back door down but there was nothing they could do. It was so hot. I have never seen anything like it."
"Outside the house there was lots of commotion." Swansea student Jamie Norman, 16, said he and a friend tried to put a ladder up to the top window to rescue the family.
"It was impossible to get in. The fire was coming out of the side of the house and the stairs were on fire. The fire brigade couldn't even go in," he said.
"I tried going in myself but it was impossible. I knew the little girl because she used to play with my nephew. She was lovely and had a wise head on her."
Another Townhill resident, Tanya Staton, said the woman who died in the blaze had been complaining about her boiler. The four-year-old girl attended the local Gors nursery school, she added.
Blackened window frames at the house on the day after the fire
"I heard the little girl was playing in the street and wanted to carry on playing but the mother brought her in just before it happened," said Ms Staton.
Keith Atkins, the head teacher of Gors nursery school, said: "She was a lovely little girl, quiet, quite shy, just beginning to come out of herself in full-time education now.
"She loved joining in with activities and singing. She was incredibly well behaved and well mannered."
Mr Atkins said there would be a special assembly in her memory on Monday.
Townhill councillor Nick Bradley said the community would pull together and support the family.
The firefighters showed great bravery and acted without a thought for their own safety Wyn Edwards, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
He said: "There are a lot of very distressed people but local people will be unified and do everything in their power to support the family."
The last fire service appliance left the scene at 0405 BST on Friday and police maintained a presence there throughout the night.The last fire service appliance left the scene at 0405 BST on Friday and police maintained a presence there throughout the night.
Assistant chief fire officer Wyn Edwards, of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said of the injured firefighters: "They were faced with a very serious fire in the property, with flames escaping from the windows and doors. Mr Edwards said of the injured firefighters: "They were faced with a very serious fire in the property, with flames escaping from the windows and doors.
"Our fire crews did actually enter through the flames, receiving burns as they did in an attempt to rescue the people still inside."Our fire crews did actually enter through the flames, receiving burns as they did in an attempt to rescue the people still inside.
"The firefighters showed great bravery and acted without a thought for their own safety. "The firefighters showed great bravery and acted without a thought for their own safety."
"This is a tragic incident and all our thoughts go out to the family and friends of those who are suffering as a result of this tragedy."
Four Mid and West Wales Fire Service crews from Swansea Central, Swansea West, Morriston and Pontardawe stations were called to the scene.
A fire service spokeswoman confirmed at about 2130 BST on Thursday that the blaze had been put out.
Anyone with information can contact South Wales Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Anyone with information can contact South Wales Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.