‘It’s just awful’: Neighbours in shock after house fire in Eynesbury kills two children and leaves mother with life-changing injuries
Neighbours have told of their shock at the house fire that has claimed the lives of two children and left their mother with life-changing injuries.
A three-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl were pronounced dead at the scene in Eynesbury, St Neots, where a blaze broke out at around 7am on Thursday (December 7).
Their 35-year-old mother was taken to hospital with life-changing injuries after leaping from a second floor window to escape the flames.
Her partner, a 46-year-old man, suffered minor injuries. Unconfirmed reports suggest he rushed home to gain access.
The fire at the three-storey house in Buttercup Avenue is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault on the first floor - but not by Christmas lights or decorations.
Windows on the terraced home’s second and third floors are completely burnt-out with the rooms inside blackened and guttering melted away.
Neighbours have been laying floral tributes on a verge near the house.
One 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.”
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.”
A tribute on a teddy bear left at the scene said: “We have no words. So heartbroken. Hope you are all in a better place. XXX.”
A message left on a card said: “Dear darling angels, keep holding each other’s hands. You are so loved.”
Several GoFundMe pages have been set up.
One from neighbour Simona Bagnato with a target of £1,000 has already raised more than £3,000. Visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/buttercup-avenue-house-burnt to contribute.
Another from a “friend of a friend” has raised more than £1,500. Visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/st-neots-fire-tragedy.
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St Neots fire: Two children die in Eynesbury house blaze
