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Man dies and family hurt in fire | Man dies and family hurt in fire |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A 41-year-old man has died and his wife and two children have been seriously injured in a suspicious fire at their home in Lancashire. | |
Flames were seen shooting out of the front door of the house in London Road, Blackburn, when fire crews arrived in the early hours. | |
The man died shortly after being pulled from the fire. His wife, 39, is in a "critical" condition. | The man died shortly after being pulled from the fire. His wife, 39, is in a "critical" condition. |
The couple's children, a boy aged nine and a girl, 14, were seriously injured. | The couple's children, a boy aged nine and a girl, 14, were seriously injured. |
Smashed front door | Smashed front door |
The children were initially taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but have since been transferred to a hospital in Manchester. | |
A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was of suspicious origin. | |
"On arrival, the firefighters saw flames shooting out the front door and the vestibule," he said. | |
Three fire engines attended the incident at 0130 BST. | |
Investigators spent the day at the scene on London Road | |
One crew broke through the back door of the house, another smashed through the front door and pulled the couple and their children from upstairs rooms. | One crew broke through the back door of the house, another smashed through the front door and pulled the couple and their children from upstairs rooms. |
Lancashire Police are also involved in the investigation into the cause of the fire. | |
Officers and fire investigators spent the day at the scene carrying our forensic examinations. | |
Det Ch Insp Mark Rothwell said: "I must stress that at this stage the fire is being treated as unexplained although we cannot rule out arson. | |
"Understandably, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and we have specially trained officers with them. | |
"We are also working with the local community and I would ask that if anybody has any information that might be useful, to contact us." | |
Although the man has not been formally identified hundreds of members of the community have visited the house to pay their respects. | |
Family friend Musa Ismail Haldarvi told the BBC: "He was a very kind and very lovely gentleman. | |
"We have lost our best mate in this community. And the community will never forget him." | |
Prayers were being held at the local mosque on Wednesday evening for the man's wife and children. |