A second child has died following a devastating fire in East Ham, east London. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that the fire broke out in a terraced house on Napier Road just before 8:30 am on Saturday.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters responded to the scene, where half of the first floor and ground floor were damaged. Despite their efforts, one child was pronounced dead at the scene, and a second child died in the hospital overnight.
Four other family members, including two adults and two children, remain in the hospital. One child’s condition is critical. All six individuals involved are believed to be members of the same family.
The fire was under control by 9:10 am. Crews from East Ham, Barking, Stratford, Ilford, and nearby fire stations were involved in the response. The London Ambulance Service also attended, sending ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, members of its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and an air ambulance.
As investigations continue, a fire engine and a police forensics van were seen at the site on Sunday afternoon. Investigators in white forensic suits entered the damaged house and the neighboring property. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the LFB and the Metropolitan Police, with no evidence currently indicating suspicious circumstances.
The local community is in mourning. Neighbors and friends of the family gathered outside the house, leaving flowers and notes in tribute. One note read, “So sorry for your terrible loss.” Neighbor and friend Rida Nawaz, 28, described the desperate efforts to save the family: “My husband broke the upstairs window, I broke the front window. We just wanted to save them.”
Another neighbor, Sabah Waheed, 35, who has known the mother for 10 years, called her “a very strong lady.” Waheed recounted that the mother managed to save one child by sending them upstairs, but three children were seriously burned.
LFB assistant commissioner Patrick Goulbourne expressed his condolences, saying, “This is a terribly sad incident, and the thoughts of all of us at London Fire Brigade are with the family, friends, and all those affected at this difficult time.” He added that staff would be in the local community over the coming days to offer support and advice. The welfare of the firefighters is also a priority, with counseling and trauma services available to those involved in the response.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz expressed her heartbreak on social media, calling the incident “an unimaginable loss.”
As the community grapples with this tragedy, the investigation continues to determine the fire’s cause and inform other family members. The London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police remain dedicated to uncovering the details of this heartbreaking event.