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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Man and two children die in fire | Man and two children die in fire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A father and his two young children who died in a "suspicious" house fire in Devon have been named locally. | A father and his two young children who died in a "suspicious" house fire in Devon have been named locally. |
| Fire crews were sent to the house on Gowmans Terrace in North Tawton after receiving a call in the early hours. | |
| Iain Varma, 34, and Chloe, four, died at the scene. Zak, eight, died upon arrival at hospital. His wife, Alison, and son Lee, two, were not there. | Iain Varma, 34, and Chloe, four, died at the scene. Zak, eight, died upon arrival at hospital. His wife, Alison, and son Lee, two, were not there. |
| The children's 59-year-old grandfather was arrested but has been released with no further action to be taken. | |
| The incident is being treated as suspicious and a major investigation has been launched. | The incident is being treated as suspicious and a major investigation has been launched. |
| They were lovely children - they used to wave to me from their back garden Violet Marsh, neighbour | They were lovely children - they used to wave to me from their back garden Violet Marsh, neighbour |
| Mrs Varma, who works in the local pub and is a governor at the nearby school, was said to be traumatised by the incident. | Mrs Varma, who works in the local pub and is a governor at the nearby school, was said to be traumatised by the incident. |
| Homes evacuated | Homes evacuated |
| Neighbour Violet Marsh, 84, said: "I saw smoke coming out of the window, there were no flames at all. | Neighbour Violet Marsh, 84, said: "I saw smoke coming out of the window, there were no flames at all. |
| "I did not realise it was such a severe fire. | "I did not realise it was such a severe fire. |
| "They were lovely children. They used to wave to me from their back garden when they were on their climbing frame." | "They were lovely children. They used to wave to me from their back garden when they were on their climbing frame." |
| Ch Supt Barry Marsden said they were keeping an open mind into the investigation and had called for anyone with information about the family at the address to call Crimestoppers. | Ch Supt Barry Marsden said they were keeping an open mind into the investigation and had called for anyone with information about the family at the address to call Crimestoppers. |
| A Home Office pathologist has arrived at the scene and a forensic investigation is being carried out. | A Home Office pathologist has arrived at the scene and a forensic investigation is being carried out. |
| Neighbouring homes were evacuated and people taken to the local pub, the Copper Key, while up to 20 firefighters tackled the blaze. | Neighbouring homes were evacuated and people taken to the local pub, the Copper Key, while up to 20 firefighters tackled the blaze. |
| Up to 90% of the first floor of the home was destroyed. | Up to 90% of the first floor of the home was destroyed. |
| Another neighbour, who would only give her name as Jo, said: "It is always a tragedy when kids are involved. | Another neighbour, who would only give her name as Jo, said: "It is always a tragedy when kids are involved. |
| "I heard someone shout 'get the kids out'." | "I heard someone shout 'get the kids out'." |
| She said the family had lived in the area for about three years after moving from London. | She said the family had lived in the area for about three years after moving from London. |