Tributes left for woman and three children who tragically died in Merseyside house fire

A fifth casualty was found outside the house and taken to hospital with burn injuries

Tributes have been paid to a woman and three children who tragically died in a house fire in Bootle, Merseyside, on Tuesday morning (September 22).

Flowers, balloons and soft toys have been left at the scene of a house fire on Stone Square, where the “intense” fire which “spread very rapidly”.

The four victims were found in the upstairs bedroom of the house in Bootle, Sefton, on Tuesday morning when firefighters entered the property, and a fifth casualty was found outside the house and taken to hospital with burn injuries.

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On Wednesday morning, a number of floral tributes had been laid next to a police cordon closing off access to the road. Candles had been placed on the pavement, along with pink and blue star-shaped balloons.

Soft toys, including Minecraft and Star Wars characters, were also laid at the scene.

One card had the message: “God bless you all. Heartbroken to hear about the devastating fire.” Another said: “Sleep tight. Forever in our hearts.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to the blaze just before 3.45am on Tuesday and found the semi-detached house well alight, a spokesman for the fire service said.

Chief fire officer Nick Searle described it as an “intense fire which spread very rapidly”.

A joint investigation with Merseyside Police is being carried out to establish the cause of the blaze. Next of kin have been informed but the victims have not yet been formally identified.

Fire service area manager Kevin Longshaw said: “This is a devastating incident and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

“We will work closely with relevant colleagues to ascertain the cause of the fire, but in the immediate term, we again extend our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic incident.”

In a statement, Bishop of Liverpool the Right Rev Ruth Worsley and Bishop of Warrington the Right Rev Simon Robinson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the devastating incident in Bootle, in which several people have tragically lost their lives.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time. We pray, too, for all those affected by this tragedy and for the emergency services who responded to the fire.”