Two children among four deaths in Derbyshire house fire

Police confirm two women and two boys died in the blaze

Williamthorpe Road in North Wingfield, Derbyshire. The road saw tragedy as four people including two children died in a house fire (Google Streetview)

Four people, including two children, have been killed in a house fire in Derbyshire early this morning.

A Derbyshire Police spokesman said two women and two boys were taken from the property by emergency services but were pronounced dead at hospital. Police are working to establish their identities.

A seven-year-old child is being treated in hospital for minor injuries and smoke inhalation after the fire in North Wingfield, near Chesterfield, north Derbyshire.

Firefighters found the girl in the rear garden of the property.

Officers were conducting a joint inquiry with the fire service into the cause of the blaze, which was reported to the emergency services at 5am.

Chief Inspector Rick Gooch said: “I can confirm that two women and two children were pronounced dead.

“I can also confirm that a seven-year-old girl survived the fire.”

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted to the fire at 4.58am.

Firefighters from Clay Cross, Chesterfield and Staveley attended the blaze, with the first appliance arriving at the scene eight minutes after the emergency call was received.

A fire service spokesman said: "A joint fire investigation is currently under way in conjunction with Derbyshire Police and further details will be released in due course."

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Kam Basi also addressed the media at a cordon near the scene in Williamthorpe Road.

He said: “Our firefighters battled quite arduous conditions within the premises, which was heavily smoke-logged.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families concerned.”

Anyone with information which could assist the inquiry into the fire is asked to contact Derbyshire Constabulary on 101.

Additional reporting by Press Association