A woman and three children died in a house fire in Merseyside in the early hours of the morning, emergency services have confirmed. 

Six fire engines and eight firefighters raced to the property in Stone Square, Bootle after Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service was called at 3.38am on Tuesday to reports of an intense blaze spreading rapidly.

Crew members wearing breathing apparatus rushed inside to find the occupants, but tragically discovered four people in the upstairs bedroom ‘showing no signs of life’.

One man is understood to have smashed the windows of the house in a desperate attempt to rescue those trapped inside, but was beaten back by the fierce flames and suffered serious burns. 

He was immediately taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.

Two members of North West Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were subsequently sent into the property and confirmed that all four had died. 

Shocked neighbours say they heard desperate screams of a woman and that despite efforts to help they were unable to.

One local, who witnessed the blaze, said: ‘We all came out on the front and we could see smoke coming over from the houses. The sirens woke me up and there were fire engines in the street.’

Four people are confirmed to have died after a fire tore through a house in Merseyside on Tuesday

Two firefighters are pictured at the scene this morning after the inferno was put out 

Another woman said: ‘I heard shouting in the early hours but I just thought someone was having an argument, then I came downstairs and saw all the fire engines.’ 

The main fire has since been extinguished and firefighters have been damping down the scene, while police officers remain at the property. 

Two fire engines were still at the scene following the blaze, according to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

A police cordon remains in place as detectives and fire investigators begin work to establish how the fire started.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police are carrying out a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze.

The fire service said crews would maintain a visible presence in the community in the coming days following the tragedy.

Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle said firefighters had been confronted with a rapidly developing fire when they arrived at the scene.

Speaking from the scene, he said: ‘Firstly, our thoughts are with everyone who’s been affected by the tragic incident this morning.

‘After a 999 call to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service fire control room at 3.30am this morning, crews from surrounding stations were informed and mobilised to the scene with the first fire engine arriving at 3.45am.

‘The initial fire crews arrived to find the semi-detached house well alight. Crews were wearing breathing apparatus, entered the building to search the property for occupants.

Forensic investigators from Merseyside Police are seen outside the home on Stone Square in Bootle 

A police cordon has remained at the home this afternoon along with fire engines

‘Six fire engines were in attendance at the height of the incident. On arrival of the fire crews, a casualty was already outside of the property, and was taken into the care of North West Ambulance Service and subsequently transferred to hospital.

‘During the course of the search of the property, firefighters discovered four casualties, showing no signs of life, and it’s now been confirmed that all four have tragically lost their lives.

‘There will now be a full joint investigation with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Merseyside Police into the cause of the fire. 

‘Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of those lost, and fire crews will maintain a visible and reassuring presence in the community over the coming days.’

MFRS Area Manager Kevin Longshaw said the tragedy had left firefighters and emergency service colleagues ‘devastated’.

He said: ‘This is a devastating incident, and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives and been injured.

‘We will work closely with relevant colleagues to ascertain the cause of the fire, but in the immediate term, we again extend our sincere condolences to those affected by this tragic incident.’

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