This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/28/five-killed-in-sheffield-house-fire
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Five killed in Sheffield house fire | Five killed in Sheffield house fire |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Three generations of the same family, a baby, two children, their aunt and grandmother, have been killed in a house fire in Sheffield. | Three generations of the same family, a baby, two children, their aunt and grandmother, have been killed in a house fire in Sheffield. |
| The grandmother died trying to rescue the others, according to a relative, who described the fire as a “tragedy beyond imagination”. | The grandmother died trying to rescue the others, according to a relative, who described the fire as a “tragedy beyond imagination”. |
| The blaze broke out around midnight in a three-storey Victorian terraced house in Wake Road, in the south-western Sharrow district. | The blaze broke out around midnight in a three-storey Victorian terraced house in Wake Road, in the south-western Sharrow district. |
| Ambulances and four fire engines and were called to the scene when the alarm was raised at 12.15am. An aerial ladder was used to tackle what a spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue described as a “severe” fire. | Ambulances and four fire engines and were called to the scene when the alarm was raised at 12.15am. An aerial ladder was used to tackle what a spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue described as a “severe” fire. |
| The ages and identities of the five people who died have not been released. The fire service confirmed that two women and three “young” children died. | The ages and identities of the five people who died have not been released. The fire service confirmed that two women and three “young” children died. |
| It is believed the women who died were the children’s 54-year-old grandmother Shabbina Begum, and their 20-year-old aunt, Anum Parwaiz Kayani. | It is believed the women who died were the children’s 54-year-old grandmother Shabbina Begum, and their 20-year-old aunt, Anum Parwaiz Kayani. |
| Ishfaq Hussain Kayani, Begum’s cousin, said a nine-week-old girl was among the victims. He named the other victims as nine-year-old Adhyan Parwaiz Kayani and his seven-year-old brother Amaan Parwaiz Kayani | Ishfaq Hussain Kayani, Begum’s cousin, said a nine-week-old girl was among the victims. He named the other victims as nine-year-old Adhyan Parwaiz Kayani and his seven-year-old brother Amaan Parwaiz Kayani |
| He said the children’s grandmother initially managed to escape from the flames, but died when she returned to try to rescue the other four. | He said the children’s grandmother initially managed to escape from the flames, but died when she returned to try to rescue the other four. |
| Kayani told the Guardian: “She came out safely, but went back in to to rescue the children. She gave up her life trying to rescue the children. We are led to believe the aunt was also trying to rescue the children.” | Kayani told the Guardian: “She came out safely, but went back in to to rescue the children. She gave up her life trying to rescue the children. We are led to believe the aunt was also trying to rescue the children.” |
| The children’s mother, Razia Nazim, survived the fire and was being consoled by relatives. Their father, Nazim Parvaiz, was working a night shift as a taxi driver when the fire began. By the time he returned home the street was sealed off by police. | The children’s mother, Razia Nazim, survived the fire and was being consoled by relatives. Their father, Nazim Parvaiz, was working a night shift as a taxi driver when the fire began. By the time he returned home the street was sealed off by police. |
| Kayani said: “The father was out working. He drives a taxi and it was the firm that informed him to call home as soon as possible.” | Kayani said: “The father was out working. He drives a taxi and it was the firm that informed him to call home as soon as possible.” |
| He added: “We got there about half past twelve, quarter to one. By the time we arrived the area was cordoned off. We didn’t see the deceased. They erected a tent outside the house for the bodies. I was trying to comfort other members of the family.” | He added: “We got there about half past twelve, quarter to one. By the time we arrived the area was cordoned off. We didn’t see the deceased. They erected a tent outside the house for the bodies. I was trying to comfort other members of the family.” |
| He said the parents were in state of shock. “The parents are not in a fit state to talk about it.” | He said the parents were in state of shock. “The parents are not in a fit state to talk about it.” |
| It was unclear what caused the fire, he said. | It was unclear what caused the fire, he said. |
| “Obviously there will be an inquest, we are just waiting anxiously for the bodies to be released because in our religion we would like to bury the deceased as soon as possible. But there are obviously certain legal procedure that need to be carried out.” | “Obviously there will be an inquest, we are just waiting anxiously for the bodies to be released because in our religion we would like to bury the deceased as soon as possible. But there are obviously certain legal procedure that need to be carried out.” |
| Kayani said his family was originally from Pakistan and had lived in Sheffield for more than 40 years. | Kayani said his family was originally from Pakistan and had lived in Sheffield for more than 40 years. |
| “It’s a huge tragedy beyond imagination. There’s three bubbly children, an aunt and a grandmother. The children were preparing to return to school today. They did their shopping over the weekend and were really looking forward to life.” | “It’s a huge tragedy beyond imagination. There’s three bubbly children, an aunt and a grandmother. The children were preparing to return to school today. They did their shopping over the weekend and were really looking forward to life.” |
| Wake Road remained sealed off as fire investigators and forensic police officers worked at the house. | Wake Road remained sealed off as fire investigators and forensic police officers worked at the house. |
| Police said they were keeping an open mind as to how the fire started. A South Yorkshire police spokesman said: “At this stage we are not able to confirm where in the house the fire broke out or if anyone else was injured.” | Police said they were keeping an open mind as to how the fire started. A South Yorkshire police spokesman said: “At this stage we are not able to confirm where in the house the fire broke out or if anyone else was injured.” |
| Phil Shillito, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue area manager, said 25 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze. | |
| "They were faced with a very challenging fire, lots of flames coming out of the property, and they were aware family members were in the premises and they went in wearing breathing apparatus enabling them to breathe in the hot and smoky environment," he said. "Unfortunately they did find five casualties in the property." | |
| A short statement from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue added: “An investigation has commenced, involving police and fire officers, to establish the cause of the fire.” | A short statement from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue added: “An investigation has commenced, involving police and fire officers, to establish the cause of the fire.” |
| Peter Holland, the government’s chief fire and rescue adviser, described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”. | Peter Holland, the government’s chief fire and rescue adviser, described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”. |
| Writing on Twitter he said: “Fires with fatalities on scale of last night’s incident in Sheffield are rare, making them v[ery] shocking when they occur.” | Writing on Twitter he said: “Fires with fatalities on scale of last night’s incident in Sheffield are rare, making them v[ery] shocking when they occur.” |