Four people have died after an overnight fire at a semi-detached house in Bootle, Merseyside. Emergency services were called to the blaze at approximately 3.45am.
Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle described the fire as “intense” and said it “spread very rapidly”. Another person, who was outside the property, was taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.
At the height of the incident, six fire engines were in attendance, and eight firefighters entered the well-alight house. A joint investigation between Merseyside fire and rescue service and Merseyside police will now be conducted to determine the cause of the fire.