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Mother and daughters die in fire | Mother and daughters die in fire |
(20 minutes 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. |
The bodies of Caneze Riaz, 39, and her daughters Sairah, 16, Sophia, 15, Alicia, 10, and three-year-old Hannah were found in the early hours. | |
Firefighters broke into a bay window of the end terrace house in Tremellen Street, Accrington. | Firefighters broke into a bay window of the end terrace house in Tremellen Street, Accrington. |
The girls' father, Mohammed Riaz, was taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition. | The girls' father, Mohammed Riaz, was taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition. |
He had to be resuscitated by a firefighter at the scene and is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit. | He had to be resuscitated by a firefighter at the scene and is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit. |
A fire service spokesman said police were treating the blaze as suspicious, although police refused 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. | 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 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 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' | '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." |
She was committed, passionate and effervescent Javed Khan, colleague of Caneze Riaz Mrs Riaz worked as a child project co-ordinator at a local community centre. | |
One of her colleagues, Javed Khan, paid tribute to her and said she played an integral part in the community. | |
Mr Khan said: "As a worker she was absolutely fantastic. She was committed, passionate and effervescent. She would do anything for the community." | |
He added: "Only a couple of days ago there was an event at the town hall, an Eid and Diwali celebration and she helped put that together. | |
"In a day and age where role models are few, especially in Accrington, a deprived community, she's one of the few people that was out there to make a difference." | |
Friend and neighbour Saeeda Farook said the girls were "angels" and described their mother as "beautiful and lovely". | |
"She was looking after them so well. I just can't believe what's happened," she said. |