House fire kills toddler and his teenage brother and sister
Fire tore through a house in Devon and a boy of three and his teenage brother and sister died.
A man, believed to be their father, raced back into the burning house to try to rescue the children. The man was treated for injuries and released along with another child. The dead teenagers, a 17-year-old girl and her 18-year-old brother, and the three-year-old boy were among eight people in the terraced house in Honiton, Devon, when the fire broke out on Friday.
Air ambulance flew them to Exeter hospital where they died with family at their bedside. The boy died in a Bristol burns unit several hours later.
Seven people in the house were from one family and the eighth was a friend staying over. The house is near the town’s fire station but area commander Nick Manning said the blaze was “well developed” when firefighters arrived minutes after the alarm was raised at 7.30am.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: “Our thoughts are with the family at this time and investigations are ongoing.”
Sauna sparks fire in Leeds hotel
A fire broke out in a Leeds city centre hotel last week after a piece of wood fell onto hot coals in a sauna. The incident happened at the Hilton hotel, Neville Street just after 7am when fire crews arrived.
A spokesman said the fire was out on arrival, adding they were called as a precaution.
He said: “A piece of wood fell onto the coals and ignited. There was some minor smoke damage but no-one was injured. Hotel staff extinguished the fire themselves.”
Fire destroys ex-Beatles and Stones gig venue in Kings Heath
Last week the site of a historic former Birmingham music venue which hosted The Beatles and Rolling Stones was destroyed in a fire.
The premises which was operating as a Cash Converters store, is on one of the main routes into Kings Heath city centre
The fire broke out at 5.00am and the police cordoned off Kings Heath High Street between Popular Road and Silver Street. Officers said they were treating it as suspicious. No-one was hurt.
Southwark museum and library blaze tackled by fire crews
Last week a fire broke out in a building in Southwark which houses a library, a museum and the council “one stop shop”.
The blaze in the four-storey building in Wansey Street, Walworth was tackled by almost 120 firefighters and 20 fire engines, with the roof of the library and museum on fire..
30 people were evacuated from inside the building, which houses Newington Library and no injuries have been reported.
Councillor Peter John, leader of the council, said: “It is too early to say what the cause of the fire is and how long services from that building will be suspended for.
“Whilst our first concern is for the safety of residents and our staff, we are also worried about possible damage to the museum’s collection.”
It is not known how the blaze started, the fire brigade said.
Image courtesy of BBC News
Major fire at Glasgow Steiner School in Yorkhill
A major fire at an independent school in the west end of Glasgow broke out last week and up to 60 children were led to safety.
55 firefighters and 10 appliances were deployed to prevent the fire spreading and Incident Commander, ACO Lewis Ramsay said: “The initial crews have worked tirelessly to tackle the blaze and operations are ongoing to contain the fire.
“Members of the local community can be assured that fire crews will continue to work relentlessly until this incident is brought to a safe conclusion.
“An effective multi-agency approach with police and the local authority is ongoing to manage the incident and reassure local residents.”
Following the evacuation, pupils were taken to a local community centre. No-one is thought to have been injured.
A joint investigation by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and Strathclyde Police will determine the cause of the blaze that is not yet known.