Late-night blaze engulfs family home on Kingsway; joint police and fire investigation launched

A 13-year-old girl has died following a devastating house fire in Prescot, Merseyside, which broke out late on Wednesday night. Emergency services were called to the scene on Kingsway at around 11:40 pm, where they found a mid-terraced house ablaze, particularly in a rear upstairs bedroom.

Merseyside Police confirmed that seven people—a man, a woman, and five children—managed to escape the burning property without injury. Tragically, the teenage girl, who was located inside by firefighters, could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crews from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service arrived within minutes of the 999 call. Four firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus, entered the home and extinguished the flames by 12:30 am on Thursday. Once the fire was under control, they began a search and rescue operation, which led to the heartbreaking discovery of the young victim.

Flowers and tributes have since been laid outside the charred property as shocked neighbours mourn the loss.

Detective Inspector Steven O’Neill expressed condolences on behalf of Merseyside Police:

“Our thoughts are with the family of the young girl at this very sad time. A joint investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and the girl’s family is being supported by specially trained officers.”

Neighbouring properties were also checked for signs of fire or smoke damage, but no further evacuations were needed.

Kingsway residents were left stunned by the overnight tragedy. One neighbour, visibly shaken, said:

“You don’t expect this to happen on your street. The whole area was glowing orange from the flames. It’s just awful.”

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and investigators from both the police and fire service are working together to determine what happened.

This is the latest in a string of domestic fires to hit Merseyside in recent months, prompting renewed focus on home fire safety and early warning systems.

As the community begins to grieve, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has reminded residents of the importance of working smoke alarms and escape plans, especially in homes with children.