Baby among three children killed in UK fire

Five people, including three young children, have died in a house fire in Sheffield.

Two women are believed to have died alongside the children in the “severe” fire that broke out in Wake Road, Sharrow.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said the blaze began shortly after midnight on the residential street, which is lined with cars on either side.

A fire brigade spokesman said: “An investigation has commenced, involving police and fire officers, to establish the cause of the fire.”

Four fire engines were called to the scene and an aerial ladder was also used to tackle the blaze.

Police and ambulance services also rushed to the house after receiving emergency calls.

The police, who cordoned off the road, said the damaged building was believed to be a terraced house.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “At this stage we are not able to confirm where in the house the fire broke out or if anyone else was injured.”

Police officers and firefighters remained at the scene, he said.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said that details about the fire would become clearer later on today.

He said: “Our investigators are arriving here at 9am, so we will know more later on this morning.”

The cousin of one of the women who died, Ishfaq Hussain Kayani, said a nine-week-old baby girl was among the children who died.

He said the other children were aged nine and seven.

Mr Hussein Kayani said his cousin was 54 and the other woman who died was her 20-year-old daughter.

He said: “It’s just a huge tragedy. Words cannot describe how sad this is.

“It’s a tragedy beyond description.”

Mr Hussain Kayani said: ``She was, to my children, like a mother, like an aunt.

“The whole community is in huge shock.”

He added: “As soon as the news broke just after midnight we came round.

“I’ve been with the family.

“It’s so sad. A couple of hours ago the whole family was leading their normal life – quite prosperous, happy.

“Just in a matter of minutes the whole family has been destroyed. The whole family has gone.

“You can well imagine what the children’s parents are going through. I don’t have the words to describe how the family is feeling other than shell-shocked, devastated.

“We are a close-knit family, there are enough people around to support the family.”

And Mr Hussain said: “They were such a lovely family, highly respected. Quite an industrious family who had everything going. This tragedy has struck and we have to try our level best to pull through this.”