Pictured: Three kids and mom killed in Bradford ‘arson assault’
Three young children and their mother who died in an alleged arson attack at their Bradford home have been named by police as family friends paid tribute.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene, while her two daughters, nine-year-old Denisty Birtle and 22-month-old Aubree Birtle, and her son Oscar Birtle, five, later died in hospital.
West Yorkshire Police have launched a murder inquiry following the ‘deliberate’ house fire in the town this morning, with neighbours telling of how they heard ‘screaming’ coming from the home.
A man, 39, who was also critically injured in the fire, was arrested on suspicion of murder in what police believe was a ‘domestic-related’ incident.
Condolences were today being shared, while a heartbreaking photo showed the youngsters’ slide and paddling pool in the garden behind their fire-hit property.
Bryonie Gawith, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene, while her two daughters, nine-year-old Denisty and 22-month-old Aubree, and her son Oscar Birtle, five, later died in hospital
An aerial view of the scene in Westbury Road, Bradford, after a house fire killed four people, with a slide and children’s paddling pool in the back garden
Emotional tributes have been left to three young children killed in the tragic blaze
A children’s car seat can be seen lying amongst soot and burnt wooden panels on the grass
Aerial views of the house in Westbury Road, Bradford, in which a woman and children died
Pictures this afternoon show belongings scattered in the garden of the Bradford home
A touching message saying, ‘Have fun in heaven, we will miss you’, has been left at the scene, placed on top of a set of purple and white flowers.
Another tribute accompanying a bunch of flowers said: ‘I love you all, all this world and more. I will miss you forever. Miss you my beautiful angels.’
Giving a statement at the scene this afternoon, Superintendent Lucy Leadbeater of West Yorkshire Police confirmed the victim’s names.
She added: ‘Whilst inquiries are at their early stages, we believe that the fire was started deliberately and this incident was domestic-related.
“Specially trained officers are supporting the family and my neighbourhood officers are in the area carrying out reassurance patrols. I would appeal to anyone who is in the Westbury Road area at the time of the incident, who has CCTV or doorbell footage to come forward.
‘Our thoughts are with the family, their friends and the community at this sad time.’
Five fire engines and a dozen ambulances arrived just after 2am, when smoke was ‘billowing out of the house’ and locals smelled ‘burned rubber’ as the property went up in a blaze.
Aerial photos of the three-bedroom semi-detached property this afternoon show a burnt-out door and window.
A children’s car seat could be seen lying amongst soot and burnt wooden panels on the grass in the front, with a children’s slide and pool in the back garden.
About 100m of Westbury Road remained cordoned off and there were a number of police vehicles still parked in the street.
Emotional tributes from relatives of the house fire victims have been left near the scene
Flowers have been placed in Westbury Road, Bradford, by mourners following the tragedy
Police remain at the property in Westbury Road, Bradford, while investigating the blaze
People have placed flowers where a house fire killed a woman and three children in Bradford
A view of the scene where the blaze broke out in the early hours of this morning in Bradford
Earlier, forensics officers in white protective clothing could be seen going in and out of the property.
Lindsey Pearson, 56, who lives up the road, said: ‘I got woken up by sirens and blue flashing lights. It was about 2 or 2.30am.
‘My daughter said, “Mum, I can smell smoke”. We thought it could be a car on fire so we came out to take a look and there were police and ambulances everywhere.
‘The whole sky was lit up. The fire was very intense. We don’t know who lives there.’
Kelly Armstrong, who lives nearby, said she first feared the blaze was at the care home where her husband works.
She said today: ‘We heard shouting and screaming, we heard kids screaming at about 1.45am.
‘I rolled over and went to sleep but I sleep with the window open and the next thing I knew I was being choked by the smoke.
‘I looked out and saw the flames, I thought it was further away. I woke my husband up because I thought it was the care home where he works.
‘We ran into the street to try to help but by that time it had all been taped off. You just feel so helpless – you want to try to do something to help, don’t you?’
Ms Armstrong said the family that lived at the house had not been there long but she would sometimes see the five-year-old boy playing on his scooter.
She added: ‘He was such a polite little boy.’
A neighbour who wanted to remain anonymous said: ‘Flames and smoke were coming out of house. We were shocked.
A message paying tribute to a ‘beautiful auntie and baby cousins’ is among those left
A 29-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene and three children – two girls aged nine and one and a five-year-old boy – were taken to hospital but died from their injuries
Police were seen guarding a cordon in Westbury Road, Bradford, following today’s incident
‘There was really thick smoke coming up the street. It filled the whole area. It looked foggy. It was overwhelming.
‘You could hear screaming. I was scared to go up there to see because you don’t know what’s happening. It’s a massive thing that’s gone on. It’s scary.’
‘My husband went up the street to see if he could help. He could see it was a house fire as there were flames and smoke coming out of it. The fire was blazing.
‘But firefighters and police told him to stand back and not put himself in danger.
‘There were other residents trying to help too. He said he’d seen two firefighters run into the home.’
Another local resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘There was a large police presence. I believe at least 15 police vehicles were there.
‘I also saw about six ambulances and at least four or five fire engines. I think it could have been a serious house fire.
‘We live down the street and we’re near the scene. It’s still all blocked off this morning.’
Police cordon in Westbury Road, Bradford, following the devastating house fire
A police cordon has been put in place as investigations continue – while a 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in hospital with ‘critical injuries’, police said
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: ‘This is an absolutely devastating incident in which three children and a woman have lost their lives’
A further resident said: ‘It woke me up. I heard the sirens at 2am or 3am in the morning.
‘Smoke was billowing out of the house. I knew something had happened and it was not good. There was a bad smell. It smelled like burned rubber.’
Other locals revealed their horror at the loss of the four people in the fire.
They said: ‘I did wake up and I saw all police incident vans. My nephew, who lives opposite, rang the fire brigade.
‘He also rang me to tell me he was all right. It’s a terrible thing to happen. It’s just awful and horrendous.’
Detective Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson, from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team at West Yorkshire Police, said: ‘This is an absolutely devastating incident in which three children and a woman have lost their lives.
‘Our thoughts remain with their family, friends and loved ones.
‘Early enquiries show that the fire was started deliberately, and we have arrested one man on suspicion of murder.’
Police and firefighters are on the scene after officers were called at 2.07am today to reports of a blaze at a property in Westbury Road, Bradford
Five fire engines and a dozen ambulances arrived just after 2am, when smoke was ‘billowing out of the house’ and locals smelled ‘burned rubber’ as the property went up in a blaze
She added: ‘Early enquiries show that the fire was started deliberately, and we have arrested one man on suspicion of murder’
She described the suspect as ‘seriously ill in hospital today as a result of injuries caused by the fire’.
She added: ‘While our enquiries are at an early stage, we do at this time believe the incident is domestic related.
‘We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident or who has CCTV or doorbell footage to come forward.
‘Specially trained officers are supporting the family, and we are working with local neighbourhood officers to carry out enquiries and provide reassurance in the area.’
