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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Fatal house fire 'was accident' | Fatal house fire 'was accident' |
| (3 days later) | |
| A fire that claimed the lives of a brother and sister in Devon on Saturday is believed to have been an accident. | A fire that claimed the lives of a brother and sister in Devon on Saturday is believed to have been an accident. |
| Eight-year-old Ben McAuliffe and Stephanie Wojak, 15, died in hospital after being rescued from their home in Ellacombe Church Road, Torquay. | |
| Neighbours helped to rescue parents Michael and Gill Wojak and Ben and Stephanie's 20-year-old brother Ricky. | |
| Investigators have ruled out arson, but are trying to find out how the fire started and why it spread so quickly. | Investigators have ruled out arson, but are trying to find out how the fire started and why it spread so quickly. |
| Insp Glen Mayhew from Devon and Cornwall Police said it was being treated as a "tragic accident". | Insp Glen Mayhew from Devon and Cornwall Police said it was being treated as a "tragic accident". |
| 'Special needs' | 'Special needs' |
| It is thought Stephanie and her foster-brother suffered cardiac arrests as a result of smoke inhalation. | |
| The area remains cordoned off, but floral tributes have been left outside the family's badly damaged home. | The area remains cordoned off, but floral tributes have been left outside the family's badly damaged home. |
| All the family's photographs and personal belongings were destroyed by the fire. | All the family's photographs and personal belongings were destroyed by the fire. |
| Stephanie was a pupil at Westlands School in Torquay and head teacher Mike Stewart described the teenager as a "delightful girl who was liked by everyone." | |
| The fire service said no smoke alarms sounded in the house | The fire service said no smoke alarms sounded in the house |
| Stephanie's brother Ben, who was autistic and had learning difficulties, was fostered by Michael and Gill Wojak when he was a baby. Ben and Stephanie were referred to as brother and sister. | |
| Ben attended Combe Pafford special school. His natural parents, who also live in Torquay, had been told of his death. | Ben attended Combe Pafford special school. His natural parents, who also live in Torquay, had been told of his death. |
| Mr Stewart said he had spoken to Ben's head teacher, who described him as a "well-liked lad who was doing well". | Mr Stewart said he had spoken to Ben's head teacher, who described him as a "well-liked lad who was doing well". |
| "Mr and Mrs Wojak were very supportive parents and they took an active interest in the school and the education of their children, my heart goes out to them," he said. | "Mr and Mrs Wojak were very supportive parents and they took an active interest in the school and the education of their children, my heart goes out to them," he said. |
| "I have heard about the courageous attempts to save lives by people in this community, it is obviously a community that cares for one another and Stephanie typified that care. | |
| "How do you cope with grief like this? These are the incidents that you never want to face as an educationalist." | "How do you cope with grief like this? These are the incidents that you never want to face as an educationalist." |
| Bravery nomination | Bravery nomination |
| Emergency services were alerted at about 1030 BST on Saturday and eyewitnesses reported the windows of the house being blown out and a black pillar of smoke filling the sky. | Emergency services were alerted at about 1030 BST on Saturday and eyewitnesses reported the windows of the house being blown out and a black pillar of smoke filling the sky. |
| Neighbours battled through fierce flames and thick smoke to rescue Mr and Mrs Wojak from an upstairs rear bedroom. | Neighbours battled through fierce flames and thick smoke to rescue Mr and Mrs Wojak from an upstairs rear bedroom. |
| One climbed on to the roof of the house to pull Mrs Wojak out of a window while another man used a ladder to get inside the property and drag Mr Wojak out. | One climbed on to the roof of the house to pull Mrs Wojak out of a window while another man used a ladder to get inside the property and drag Mr Wojak out. |
| The two men, who have been hailed as heroes, will be nominated for police and fire bravery awards. | The two men, who have been hailed as heroes, will be nominated for police and fire bravery awards. |
| Another neighbour, 23-year-old Ben Long, who lives opposite the Wojak's house said: "It was one of the worst things I have ever seen - we could just stand by watching helplessly. | Another neighbour, 23-year-old Ben Long, who lives opposite the Wojak's house said: "It was one of the worst things I have ever seen - we could just stand by watching helplessly. |
| "It is not like any fire that I have ever seen, it was so intense and you could feel the heat from inside our house." | "It is not like any fire that I have ever seen, it was so intense and you could feel the heat from inside our house." |
| Mr and Mrs Wojak and their eldest son were treated in hospital for the effects of breathing in smoke. They have since been released. | Mr and Mrs Wojak and their eldest son were treated in hospital for the effects of breathing in smoke. They have since been released. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Insp Glen Mayhew talks about the heroic efforts of neighbours trying to save family members from the fire | Insp Glen Mayhew talks about the heroic efforts of neighbours trying to save family members from the fire |