BREAKING NEWSPictured: Girl, six, who died in house fire as 14-year-old is released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of arson
This is the first picture of a tragic six-year-old girl killed in a house fire that saw a 14-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of arson.
This is the first picture of a tragic six-year-old girl killed in a house fire that saw a 14-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of arson.
Angelic blonde-haired Chamiah Brindley is seen smiling and giggling in family photos as neighbours said her mother, Tracey Moore, 38, was devastated by her loss.
Ms Moore, who has 10 other children, was said to dote on little Chamiah.
Her heartbroken uncle, who lives opposite the cordoned-off council property in Leicester, sobbed: ‘My little niece died, we’ve lost her in the fire.’
‘It’s my sister’s house, what’s happened is awful. I’m too upset to speak.’
Chamiah Brindley, six, has been named as the victim of a house fire in which a 14-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of arson
Little Chamiah is seen smiling happily in family photographs
A young boy, standing next to him in his front garden, said: ‘I was in there at the time. I got out. I was lucky!’
Emergency services were alerted to the inferno at 4.08am on Tuesday.
A number of people, understand to be family members, were taken to hospital for treatment as a precaution, Leicestershire Police said.
A 14-year-old girl arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the incident was later released on bail.
As forensic experts scoured the mid-terrace house, tearful friends, neighbours and family members laid tributes at the scene today.
Among them were bunches of flowers, a floral wreath with the little girl’s name on and a pink My Little Pony toy.
The victim has younger and older brothers and sisters, among them twin sisters and one who has a baby.
One tribute, nestling among cuddly toys, read: ‘You are the sweetest, you will be missed.’
Another said: ‘Rest in peace beautiful little girl. Taken tragically too soon.’
Skylights in the solar-panelled roof of the house in Bedale Drive, in the Mowmacre Hill area of the city, were blasted out by the mystery blaze.
Police and fire forensics officers have been combing the scene of the blaze for clues
A window at the back of the property was blown out by the fire
Skylights on the roof of the house show evidence of fire damage following the blaze in the early hours of Tuesday
Police said they are keeping an open mind while they investigate the cause of the devastating fire
Debris could be seen strewn across the long back lawn and charred windows in the roof extension,.
Several children’s bicycles were stacked against a wall and fence at the front of the house.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: ‘While an arrest has been made, detectives are keeping an open mind and are working closely with colleagues from the fire service to establish the full circumstances leading up to the incident.
Detective Inspector Michael Chandler added: ‘This is an extremely tragic incident in which a person has sadly lost their life.’
Shocked neighbours rallied around to help support and comfort the heartbroken family.
A range of floral tributes were left outside the house on Wednesday
Friends and neighbours rallied around to support the family following the fire, with many saying tragic Chamiah was lovely and beautiful
One mum, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It is a very tight-knit community and many of us know the little girl who has died, Chamiah Brindley.
‘She’s from a big loving family with lots of brothers and sisters and went to the nearby primary school.
‘She’s a beautiful little girl and adored by her mum. My heart goes out to them all. It is a terrible thing to happen.
The woman added: ‘We don’t know how the blaze started but many of us were woken up by the sounds of screaming and commotion and engines racing here.
‘Some neighbours were trying to help get the family to safety. There were scenes of hysteria.’
Next door neighbour Shano told how she was woken in the early hours to flames outside.
She said: ‘It was about four in the morning and me and my husband were asleep in bed at the back of our adjoining house.
‘I saw firelight through the curtains and looked out of the window and saw sparks flying from next door. I heard no screaming but just scratching noises.’
Kurdish Shano, who knows the family, said: I think the fire stated in the room at the top but don’t know how it happened.
The little girl died and her family are in shock. My husband spoke to her mum Tracey this morning. She is devastated. It is an awful thing.
One resident who laid flowers at the scene said: [Chamiah] was in the same year as my granddaughter and grandson at school. It’s an absolute tragedy, she was such a lovely girl.
We’re not sure what happened, whether it was deliberate or accidental, but there’s police, fire and forensics all over the place.
I just wanted to lay some flowers and pay my respects. It’s just so awful what has happened.
