Police have launched an investigation into whether a house fire on Boxing Day believed to have killed three and left one other in hospital is suspicious.
Emergency services were called to a property on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, at about 3am on Boxing Day morning.
Three people were left unaccounted for while another was taken to hospital for treatment following the blaze.
In a statement this morning, Gloucestershire police said: ‘Enquiries are continuing following a house fire on Brimscombe Hill in Stroud yesterday morning, Friday December 26.
‘An investigation has been launched alongside Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service to determine the cause of the fire, and the coroner has been informed.
‘A cordon remains in place at the address and an emergency services presence is expected to continue for several days.’
Roads were closed on Brimscombe Hill after police investigated the cause of a house fire that is believed to have killed three and hospitalised one person
Emergency services were called to the property after reports of a fire at about 3am on Boxing Day morning
‘We ask that people respect the privacy of those involved at this unimaginably difficult time and refrain from any speculation,’ they added.
Yesterday, the police confirmed that one person was able to escape the property and is being treated at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
They said, however, that three other people who were believed to have been inside the property at the time have not yet been accounted for and efforts to locate them are ongoing.
Road closures were in place on Brimscombe Hill while emergency services remained at the scene, and people are being asked to avoid the area.
An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the fire.
