Fire which killed two children in Cambridegshire started by electrical fault

Emergency services have been at the scene of the house fire in Eynesbury since yesterday morning (Thursday 10 December).

A three-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl were pronounced dead at the scene, a 35-year-old woman has been taken to hospital with life-changing injuries, while a 46-year-old man has suffered minor injuries.

Police said that the mother’s injuries were caused by jumping from a second-floor window.

It is believed the blaze broke out about 7am at a three-story house in Buttercup Avenue.

This afternoon a Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: "An investigation into the fire has concluded the most probable cause was an electrical fault in a first-floor bedroom at the property.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and a file is in the process of being handed to the coroner where police involvement will end."

The fire was not started by Christmas lights.

A white forensic tent was put up in front of the property on Friday, with a police scientific support unit and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s fire investigation dog team on scene.

Soft toys and floral tributes were left on a verge near the house.

A message left on one teddy bear said: “We have no words. So heartbroken. Hope you are all in a better place. XXX.”

Windows on the terraced home’s second and third floors are completely burnt-out with the rooms inside blackened and guttering melted away.

The house is on a modern estate near St Neots, with many homes decorated for Christmas – including a festive wreath on one immediate neighbour’s door.

Neighbour Charles Cooper, 30, said: “The flames went up fairly swiftly.

“By the time my wife and I woke up the firefighters had already arrived.

“It took a good three or four hours before the smoke abated.

“The flames were coming out of the top window.”

He said he did not know the family to speak to but said “we would give them a wave”.

He added: “I’ve seen the children playing in the garden.

“Everyone’s perfectly polite and pleasant but it’s not the sort of place we all get together on a regular basis.”

Neighbour Peter Kellythorn, 40, said there was a smell “like something might be smouldering” when he awoke on Thursday.

“I got dressed, came outside and there was smoke billowing out from the back window,” he said.

He added that a satellite dish on the house appeared to have melted, and said: “The heat – it doesn’t bear thinking about.

“It’s awful.

“We hoped everyone had got out.

“They’re fairly new houses and they’re all fitted with fire alarms and things.

“It’s just awful.”

A GoFundMe page set up by a neighbour with a target of raising £1,000 for the family had reached more than £3,000 by Friday lunchtime.

Fire crews from St Neots, Huntingdon, Sawtry, Gamlingay, Cambridge, along with crews from Bedford and Kempston from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the incident.

Firefighters arrived to find a three storey house with flames issuing from the building.

Around 40 firefighters were in attendance.

Police and ambulance also responded, along with East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Chief Fire Officer, Chris Strickland, said: “This is such a devastating incident and our thoughts remain with the family.

“Crews fought tirelessly to get the fire under control and locate the children who they had been told were still in the house.

“It’s one of the toughest incidents you can attend as a firefighter and we’re looking after the crews who were there.

“But all of our thoughts are very much with the family and the local community and we’ll be in the area over the coming days providing support to residents.”