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Four die in Harlow house fire Four die in Harlow house fire
(about 1 hour later)
A woman and three young children have died and two other people are in hospital after a house fire, emergency services said on Monday. Three young children and a woman have died in a house fire in Essex, emergency services said.
Fire crews were called to Barn Mead in Harlow, Essex, at 1.45am. The occupants of the property were rescued, but a spokeswoman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said three children died. At least two other people are in hospital, after the blaze in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday.
Firefighters called to the scene described the house as being "100% well alight", with flames coming from the front and back doors. Fire crews were called to the property at 1.45am and managed to get the occupants out but four people died.
Assistant divisional officer Steve Foster, incident commander, said: "Crews arriving at the scene did everything they could. They were faced with a rapidly developed fire and went straight into the burning building wearing breathing apparatus to bring people out as quickly as possible. Firefighters described the house as being "100% well alight", with flames coming from the front and back doors.
"Once casualties were out, they worked alongside ambulance teams to do all they could. Incident commander Steve Foster, said: "Crews arriving at the scene did everything they could. They were faced with a rapidly developing fire and went straight into the burning building wearing breathing apparatus to bring people out as quickly as possible.
"Fire investigation teams are now working with police to establish how this tragedy happened and our thoughts are with those the family left behind." "Once casualties were out, they worked alongside ambulance teams to do all they could."
A spokeswoman for the service said the father was not at home when the blaze broke out, and the four fatalities occurred at the scene. He said that fire investigation teams were working with police to establish the cause of the tragedy, adding "our thoughts are with those the family left behind".
A spokeswoman for the service said the father was not at home when the blaze broke out and the four deaths occurred at the scene.
She said: "We understand that firefighters brought them out of the house and were doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) outside, and that they were confirmed dead at the scene.She said: "We understand that firefighters brought them out of the house and were doing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) outside, and that they were confirmed dead at the scene.
"The incident is now in the hands of Essex police.""The incident is now in the hands of Essex police."
Essex police confirmed that three children and a woman had died in the blaze, and that two people were in hospital, one of them in a critical condition. Essex police said that three children and a woman had died in the blaze, and that two people were in hospital, one of them in a critical condition. But East of England ambulance service (EEAST), which sent five ambulances and its hazardous area response team to the scene, said three people were taken to Princess Alexandra hospital, two children, who are in a critical condition, and one adult.
A police statement said: "The cause of the fire is under investigation and detectives are looking at the circumstances leading up to the fire, and ask that anyone who was in the area of Barn Mead in the early hours of Monday and has any information contacts police at Harlow police station on 101."A police statement said: "The cause of the fire is under investigation and detectives are looking at the circumstances leading up to the fire, and ask that anyone who was in the area of Barn Mead in the early hours of Monday and has any information contacts police at Harlow police station on 101."
A joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the blaze. EEAST spokesman Gary Sanderson said: "Ambulance crews worked extremely hard alongside the fire service to treat a total of seven casualties, two adults and five children, who were all conveyed to Princess Alexandra hospital.
Sadly after everyone's best efforts, three children and an adult lost their lives. Two other children remain in a critical condition in hospital."