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After two days at the scene, Cambridgeshire Police have released an update on what they believe is the “most likely cause” of the fire that claimed the lives of two children.
Emergency services were called shortly after 7 a.m. yesterday, December 10, to a three-story row house on Buttercup Avenue in Eynesbury.
When they arrived, firefighters found fierce flames protruding from the windows of the upper two floors.
Two adults had managed to escape the fire, a 35-year-old woman believed to be the mother, who jumped from a window to escape the flames, and a 46-year-old man believed to be the stepfather.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency personnel, two children, a 3-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman was taken to Addenbrooke Hospital with life-changing injuries, while the man suffered minor injuries.
Cambridgeshire Police have since confirmed that an investigation into the fire concluded that the most likely cause was an electrical failure in a room on the first floor of the property.
They said there are no suspicious circumstances and a file is in the process of being handed over to the coroner, where the police will end.
Those from the community outside the property have left tributes with cards, flowers and stuffed animals with messages of condolences for the family.
The tributes left to the family and two children at the scene of the fire include one that reads, “Dear angels, keep holding hands. You are so loved. “
The firefighters who had tackled the blaze yesterday also paid their respects to the lives that were so sadly cut short.
(Image: Cambridge News)
Speaking to CambridgeshireLive, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander Chris Parker said: “Yesterday morning around 7.10am we were mobilized to a fire on this property.
“Crews responded from Cambridgeshire and across the border in Bedfordshire. In total, we had about 40 firefighters here fighting the blaze.
“When our crews arrived, they faced a severe fire with flames coming from both the first and second floors.
“Two adults had managed to escape the building, but the teams realized that there were two children inside the building.
“So the teams went into the building to put out the fire and search for the children.
“Unfortunately, the two children lost their lives in the fire, which is an absolute tragedy.”
(Image: Cambridge News)
Chris Parker spoke of the devastation to everyone involved, with neighbors calling the fire a “Christmas tragedy.”
He went on to say, “We convey our condolences to the family and also to the local community because it will have a massive impact.
“Also, obviously it has impacted all the first responders who attended yesterday, so we made sure to provide social assistance so that they are all well too.”
Fire Chief Chris Strickland praised the firefighters for fighting “tirelessly” after they were told the two boys were still in the house.
“This is such a devastating incident and our thoughts remain with the family,” he said.
“The teams fought tirelessly to control the fire and locate the children who had been told they were still in the house.”
Stickland added: “This is one of the most difficult incidents you can attend as a firefighter and we are taking care of the crews that were there.
“But all of our thoughts are with the family and the local community and we will be in the area for the next few days supporting the residents.”
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