Three children dead after Salford house fire
Three children, one just seven years old, have died in a house fire in Greater Manchester amid claims flammable liquid was poured through the home's letterbox.
A 14-year-old girl was declared dead at the scene of the blaze in Salford before an eight-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl died in hospital.
Police have confirmed that a three-year-old girl is fighting for her life and the fire is being treated as suspicious.
The 35-year-old mother of all the children is also in a serious condition in hospital, emergency services have said.
Police closed off a road in Salford today following a fire which killed three children
Screens have been erected in the street while the police investigation takes place
Four fire engines were called to the blaze in the Worsley area as roads around the scene were closed this morning.
Police are said to be investigating whether a flammable liquid was poured through the home's letterbox, Manchester Evening News reported.
There are also reports that two teenagers managed to escape the blaze. Their condition is not known.
It is believed that police had been called to the house to a reported incident there at around 2am, around three hours before the fire service were alerted to the blaze.
It is understood that in the earlier incident, the police and the fire service were responding to reports of a wheelie bin at the home being set on fire.
A metal screen was put up at the entrance to the street following the fire this morning
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A police spokesman said: 'Shortly before 5am police were called to reports of a house fire on Jackson Street in Walkden, Salford.
'A 14-year-old girl was sadly pronounced dead at the scene before an 8-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl passed away at the hospital.
'A 3-year-old girl remains in hospital in a critical condition and a 35-year-old woman is in a serious condition.
'An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.'