A 13-year-old schoolgirl who died in a devastating house fire just days after Christmas could not be rescued by firefighters as the staircase had collapsed, an inquest has heard.
Lily Anne Childs, also known as Lily Kennedy, was at her house in Hamstreet, near Ashford, Kent, when the blaze broke out shortly after midday on December 28.
A coroner told how residents on the new-build estate fought to rescue her – but ‘the flames were too aggressive’.
Six fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze, which had spread throughout the semi-detached property in White Admiral Way.
Another child was taken to hospital along with an adult, believed to be Lily’s mother – but Lily could not be saved.
An inquest into Lily’s death was opened at Oakwood House in Maidstone on Monday.
Coroner Sarah Clarke said: ‘Emergency services were called to reports of a fire and a child being trapped.
‘Multiple witnesses called the emergency services, and it was reported that neighbours attempted to rescue the child, but the flames were too aggressive.
Lily Childs, 13, pictured with her mother Annemarie Childs, who is believed to have been taken to hospital following the blaze
Lily could not be rescued by firefighters as the staircase had collapsed, an inquest into her death has heard
‘Firefighters tried to get upstairs, but the stairs collapsed, and they could not get access.’
At the time of the blaze, fire chiefs said it was believed to have started on the ground floor and spread upwards.
It was so fierce that three firefighters were also hospitalised.
Crews remained at the scene until 7pm on December 29.
Police said the following day that the fire was not being treated as suspicious.
Posting a tribute on social media, Lily’s aunt Marie Louise said: ‘Rest in peace sweet girl Xx’, while later linking to a report on the blaze she added: ‘My poor niece, thoughts and prayers are with my poor brother and Lily’s mum.’
Meanwhile, family friend Aeryn Gower posted a social media tribute to Lily which read: ‘I am beyond sad to hear this news. She was always smiley and knocking on our door wanting to play. She will never be forgotten.’
The windows on the ground floor of the home were completely blown out in the fire and Christmas decorations lay deflated in the front garden.
Emergency services at the scene in White Admiral Way
Six fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze, which had spread quickly throughout the home
Six fire engines and a height vehicle were deployed to the property at the time of the blaze, which had ‘spread quickly’.
Neighbours said they tried to rush into the house – but the blaze was too strong.
One resident told Metro: ‘It started downstairs and spread really quickly.
‘There was nothing we could do at that point. It was really bad. We were all beaten back.’
The coroner gave Lily’s medical cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes – but said this was pending further investigation.
The inquest is set to continue on March 30.