General Chat

see below ..............

Christmas lights may have killed family 9.50PM, Sat Dec 17 2005 A family of five have died in a house fire that may have been started by their Christmas lights. The mother and father, their two daughters and a son, all aged under 10, were discovered by firefighters called out to the blaze in Hayes, Middlesex. They spent nearly two hours battling the flames after they were called to the address at Willenhall Drive just before 3am. Fire investigators said they had ruled out arson and were looking at the possibility that the cause could have been the large number of Christmas lights that the family had inside and outside of the semi-detached house. Mazin Daud, a fire service spokesman, said: 'At this stage it is difficult to tell how the fire started because of the level of destruction, but we are looking into every possibility. 'This time of year candles and lights are brought down from the loft and dusted off, Christmas trees can be a real hazard - you have got so much additional fuel.' He said his officers had found two adults and child downstairs and two other children upstairs, but by the time they arrived nothing could be done for them. The spokesman added: 'Especially when you come across children it is hard. They are all upset about it.'

saw that on the news today Anne....how terribly terribly sad for the whole family and all their friends and loved ones...my heart goes out to them all

That is terrible - especially at this time of year. Granny

I Know Jill - terrible :O( A stark warning - be sure to switch off all your christmas lights at night and when you go out !!!

Apparently this family had Christmas lights on inside and outside the house and were crazy for Christmas - how sad now that their families will have no reason to want to celebrate Christmas ever again. Such a tragic waste of life, bless them all.

What a terrible tragedy. My condolences go to the family. I was only saying that the decos nowa dass seem to be all fairy lights orientated when we were growing up it was all paper chains and tinsel we could just about afford the 10 - 20 bulb lights with the big expensive replacement bulbs now it seems lights have to be everywhere, 40 at a time at least. My eldest son who works part time in Tescos was only saying tonight when he got in from work that there was a huge amount of people looking for lights and ALL the Tescos stores had sold out of them. I just hope people will be more careful when they hear such a terrible thing happening. Pat x

A Terrible thing to happen.......so tragic. Every year we seem to hear of house fires caused by Christmas decorations. I just came home at 4am this morning and it's amazing how many people seem to leave their lights on all night long. Most of my neighbours do. I just hope people will pay heed and switch off before there is another tragedy. Christine

It just doesn't bear thinking about. That poor family obviously looking forward to Christmas so much and now this tragedy. June xx

Yes, terrible news.... very sad.

My husband was one of the police officers at the scene, it's really affected him so all our thoughts are with relations and friends who must be devastated. Jenny

thoughts go out to all. don't quite know what to say. bless them all lynnxx