A woman and three children died following a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Fire crews were called to the semi-detached property at approximately 3:38 a.m., with the first fire engine arriving at 3:45 a.m., according to the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS).

Upon arrival, firefighters found the house fully engulfed in flames. Six fire engines and eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to conduct a search and tackle the intense fire, which had spread rapidly. Four individuals were found deceased in an upstairs bedroom, while another person was discovered outside the property and taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.

MFRS Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle described the fire as “intense” and confirmed the fatalities: “During the course of the search of the property, firefighters discovered four casualties, showing no signs of life, and it’s now being confirmed that all four have tragically lost their lives.” He added that a full joint investigation with Merseyside Police would be launched to determine the cause of the blaze.

Area Manager Kevin Longshaw extended condolences to the victims’ families and friends, stating, “Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.” He noted that emergency services would work closely with relevant authorities to establish how the fire started.

Local residents reported being woken by the sound of sirens and seeing smoke rising from nearby houses. One witness said, “We all came out on the front and we could see smoke coming over from the houses.”

The incident remains under investigation as authorities continue to seek a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire.