Two arrested over house fire that killed four children in Staffordshire

Two people have been arrested in connection with a house fire that killed four children in Staffordshire, police have said.

A 24-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man are being held on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.

It follows an investigation into the probable cause of the fire which tore through the house in the Highfields area of Stafford on Tuesday.

The pair were arrested at around 1:30pm and are now in custody.

Riley Holt, eight, Keegan Unitt, six, Olly Unitt, three, and Tilly Rose Unitt, four, died after the blaze in Sycamore Lane.

Their mother Natalie Unitt and her partner Chris Moulton were treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries along with a fifth child.

A man was reportedly seen jumping from a window of the house while clutching a baby.

Staffordshire Police said in a statement: “This incident has had a huge impact on the community and we understand there will be confusion and a demand for information.

“However, we would urge people not to speculate as to what may have happened and appeal for patience as the investigation continues.

“We will provide further updates as soon as we are able to.”

Photos from the scene showed part of the roof of the house collapsed, windows were smashed and the inside was blackened with smoke.

Nicola Glover is the headteacher at Castlechurch Primary School which was attended by three of the children.

She said: “Our entire school community is absolutely devastated by this news.

“Riley was a very confident, excitable member of school who came every day full of enthusiasm. He was a caring friend who hated to see anyone hurt or upset and would do his best to help or cheer them up.

“Tilly was a happy little girl who loved coming to nursery. She was a friendly and caring child who loved to read stories, dress up and paint.

“Olly was a happy, loving boy who loved cuddles. He was always happy to come to nursery and loved to be in the role play area with the dolls.

“We have put in place support in school for staff and pupils, to help anyone who feels affected. Our sympathies are with the children’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time.”

Kim Ellis, headteacher at Marshlands Special School where Keegan was a pupil, said: “Keegan was lively, full of fun and mischief with a really endearing smile. He loved school and everyone who worked with him loved him. We are all so proud of him and the progress that he had made.

“It is very hard to accept what has happened. Our school community are understandably devastated and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Chief Inspector John Owen of Staffordshire Police described the incident as “absolutely heartbreaking”.

A friend of the children’s mother said she believed the family had lived at the house for around six months, having moved there from another part of Stafford.

An eyewitness, who didn’t want to give her name, said: “The room at the back was completely full of flames.

“We just stood there with our hands over our mouths wondering what was going to happen next.

“A man and a woman got into an ambulance. They were in blankets and she had the little one in her arms.

“I’d assumed they had all got out. It’s terribly sad, almost beyond belief.”

Another neighbour, who also didn’t want to be named, told how they saw flames engulf an upstairs window at the semi-detached property.

She said: “We heard a bang and looked out of the back window upstairs.

“At the start it was just a sheet of fire coming out of the bedroom window. It seemed to take ages for the fire brigade to arrive – it seemed like forever.

“The neighbours came out and drove their car out of the back garden and there were lots of fire engines and police.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Two arrested over house fire that killed four children in Staffordshire