A woman and an eight-year-old girl have died in a suspicious house fire, while a ten-year-old girl remains in critical condition in hospital.
Danielle Parkinson, 31, has been named locally as the woman who was pulled from the blaze along with the two girls at a house on Leeds Road in Huddersfield early this morning.
Although paramedics swiftly took her to hospital she tragically later died from her injuries.
Authorities have now also confirmed that an eight-year-old girl passed away in hospital earlier today, as floral tributes have started to flood the road.
Danielle Parkinson, 31, has been named locally as the woman who was pulled from the blaze with the two girls at a house on Leeds Road in Huddersfield early this morning
Authorities have now also confirmed that an eight-year-old girl passed away in hospital earlier today, as floral tributes have started to flood the road
Forensic officers examine the surroundings of a house where Danielle and the eight-year-old girl died in a house fire
Local woman Jen Mortimer, 26, said: ‘Danielle was a private person, but would say ‘hello’.
‘Her little girls used to play in the playground behind her house from time to time. I just hope the girls survive.’
Firefighters remain at the scene of the tragedy on Leeds Road, Huddersfield, as inspectors attempt to discover the cause of the fire, which ripped through the house and tore through the food tiles.
Danielle worked in the corner shop beside her home, according to locals.
She rented her home from her corner shop boss. Both the store and the gutted home remain behind a police cordon.
An investigation into the house fire is ongoing but police are treating it as suspicious.
A sniffer dog examines the surroundings of the house. According to locals Danielle worked in the corner shop beside her home
Forensic officers on the scene today. One resident said: ‘Danielle was always chatty with me and I know she adored her girls’
The door to their home can be seen blackened with soot from the fire that killed Danielle
Forensic officers examining items after the fire. Danielle had thought the council could do a better job at cleaning up the area, as she wanted it to be a safe and tidy environment for her children
Another resident said: ‘Danielle was always chatty with me and I know she adored her girls.
‘I’m just so shocked and can’t understand why the fire is thought to be suspicious.’
Only in May was Danielle complaining in the local press that Kirklees Council was failing to properly maintain and clear rubbish from the playground used by her daughters.
The shop assistant thought the council could do a better job at cleaning up the area, as she wanted it to be a safe and tidy environment for her children, eight and ten, especially the park which she said was sometimes covered in broken glass.
Danielle said back then: ‘It would be nice if the council took more care of it, to be honest. Just having a clean street and a clean park that’s not full of glass, it’s the bare minimum, for a safe clean place to be around and have the kids playing. It’s not asking for much.
‘And there’s a lot of things that need fixing that people have been waiting for, like broken fences, gates, in the homes and in people’s gardens.’
Burned shoes can be seen above
Emergency services were called to the house in Leeds Road in Huddersfield, West Yorks, (above) at 2.24am following reports of a blaze
Forensic officers examine the surroundings of a house where a woman has died
Emergency services on the scene at a house fire on Leeds Road
A woman has died and two children left fighting for their lives after a ‘suspicious’ house fire
West Yorkshire Police said they are treating the incident as ‘suspicious’ but are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the fire.
A police cordon remains in place at the property today.
DCI James Entwistle said: ‘Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragic incident. Specially trained officers are supporting the family.
‘Whilst we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, we are still keen to speak to anyone who was in the area this morning, who may have seen something to come forward with information.
‘A scene remains in place whilst enquiries are carried out.’
