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Mother and daughters die in fire Mother and daughters die in fire
(about 2 hours later)
A mother and her four daughters, aged from under one to 16 years old, have died in a house fire in Lancashire.A mother and her four daughters, aged from under one to 16 years old, have died in a house fire in Lancashire.
Their bodies were found by firefighters who broke into a bay window of the end terrace house in Tremellen Street, Accrington, in the early hours. The bodies of Caneze Riaz and her daughters Sairah, 16, Sophia, 15, Alicia, 10, and three-year-old Hannah were found in the early hours.
The girls' father escaped from the house and was taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition. Firefighters broke into a bay window of the end terrace house in Tremellen Street, Accrington.
The house has been sealed off and a police investigation is under way into the cause of the blaze. The girls' father, Mohammed Riaz, was taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition.
'Serious burns' He had to be resuscitated by a firefighter at the scene and is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit.
The name of the dead family will not be released until the next of kin have been informed. A fire service spokesman said police are treating the blaze as suspicious. Police are refusing to confirm this.
The house has been sealed off as police investigateThe house has been sealed off and a police investigation is under way into the cause of the blaze.
A spokeswoman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the bodies were found upstairs and that there was very serious damage to the house.A spokeswoman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the bodies were found upstairs and that there was very serious damage to the house.
The father of the family is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit.
The fire service spokeswoman added: "We received a 999 call from a mobile alerting us to the fire at 1.52am this morning, and we were on the scene within three minutes.The fire service spokeswoman added: "We received a 999 call from a mobile alerting us to the fire at 1.52am this morning, and we were on the scene within three minutes.
The house has been sealed off as police investigate"The four children and mother were rescued from the burning house but were dead on rescue." "The four children and mother were rescued from the burning house but were dead on rescue."
'Local tragedy'
Michael Frankland, East Lancashire community protection manager for the fire service, said the blaze was one of the worst he had seen in his 26 years' experience.Michael Frankland, East Lancashire community protection manager for the fire service, said the blaze was one of the worst he had seen in his 26 years' experience.
"We believe the police are treating it as suspicious," he said. "We are gathering a specialist forensic team."We believe the police are treating it as suspicious," he said. "We are gathering a specialist forensic team.
"It is tragic for firefighters to be rescuing young children. It will be a tragedy for the local community.""It is tragic for firefighters to be rescuing young children. It will be a tragedy for the local community."
Javed Khan, who worked with Mrs Riaz, paid tribute to her and said she played an integral part in the community.
"As a worker she was absolutely fantastic. She was committed, passionate and effervescent. She would do anything for the community."