Stroud House Fire: Mother and Two Children Die in Boxing Day Tragedy
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A mother and her two young children perished in a devastating house fire in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on Boxing Day, leaving a serving police officer father heartbroken and a community in mourning. The blaze, which erupted at a mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill around 3:00 AM GMT on Friday, resulted in the tragic loss of a woman in her late 30s, a seven-year-old girl, and a four-year-old boy.
A Desperate Attempt to Rescue Family
According to authorities, the father, a member of the Gloucestershire Constabulary, awoke to the fire alongside his wife and children and immediately attempted to reach his children’s bedroom. He managed to escape through a bathroom window, then bravely tried to climb into the children’s room, but was driven back by the intense “ferocity and heat” of the flames. He repeatedly attempted to re-enter the property through various entry points, but the fire had rapidly spread, making rescue impossible.
“We have multiple witnesses to the anguish he was going through at his inability to get in and save his children and save his wife,” stated a senior official during a press conference. “He is, as you can imagine, in a very distraught way. He has sadly lost his family at a time which is supposed to be a happy festive period.”
Recovery Efforts and Ongoing Investigation
The body of the mother was recovered on Sunday, but formal identification is still pending. Emergency services continue to work cautiously to locate and recover the body of one of the children, which remains inside the severely damaged property. The unstable condition of the building is hindering the recovery process. The fire originated on the ground floor, and investigators have found no evidence of suspicious circumstances.
“We are very much in a process where we’re looking to recover the bodies of all of the victims inside the property in a dignified way, in order to return them to the family,” a senior official confirmed. He also emphasized the support being offered to the grieving officer and his colleagues. “Our hearts and prayers go out to him and all of his colleagues.”
Community and Emergency Services Respond
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service crews responded to the “well-established” fire and successfully prevented it from spreading to neighboring homes, though the damage to the family’s cottage is extensive, including a collapsed roof and internal structural failures. A deputy chief fire officer described the scene upon arrival as a “well-developed, serious fire.”
“[Crews] tried their hardest to get in there and do whatever was necessary and continue to work extremely hard to support the recovery of the unfortunate loss of life,” the deputy chief fire officer added.
The Gloucestershire Police Federation has pledged full support to the officer and his colleagues, acknowledging the “unimaginable tragedy.” Chloe Turner, leader of Stroud District Council, expressed her condolences and announced the council would provide support to the community and emergency personnel. “My heart goes out to everybody impacted by this horrific incident,” she said. “It’s been very upsetting in this limbo state, waiting for news. The family are known and loved locally so it’s a really difficult time.”
The family has requested privacy as they navigate this unimaginable loss.
