Huddersfield house fire tragedy: Was it a cigarette lighter?

May 9 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Fire tragedy: Was it a cigarette lighter?

TWO brothers killed in a house fire died from fire, smoke and fumes, it was revealed last night.

The exact cause of the blaze which killed two-year-old Junaid Hussain and his four-year-old brother Sohail is yet to be confirmed.

But the cause of death to both children has now been revealed as death from the effects of fire including smoke and gas inhalation.

Senior firefighters say their investigation centres on the possibility that the children were playing with a cigarette lighter.

Temperatures could have reached 1,000°C in a bedroom and the boys fled from the seat of the fire into another room.

The blaze at their family home on Rashcliffe Hill Road, Thornton Lodge happened on Wednesday afternoon.

Both boys were rushed to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary by ambulance but died.

Their mother Nazia Akhtar, who is eight months pregnant, was treated for shock.

Flowers have been left outside the house as firefighters issued a warning to parents following the tragic fire.

Chris Hellas, Kirklees District Manager for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We can now confirm the cause of the fire was accidental and our investigations are now focussing on the possibility that the children may have been playing with fire.

“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the two boys who sadly died as a result of the fire.