Two dead in house fire after police desperately try to save them
TWO people have died in a house fire which was spotted by passing police officers who desperately tried to save the couple.
Fire crews at the house where two people died
Officers made "valiant" attempts to force their way into the house in Wirral, Merseyside, at about 8.30pm last night, but were overcome by heat and smoke.
A woman was brought outside and given emergency first aid before being transferred to Arrowe Park hospital but she was later pronounced dead.
A man was also found dead inside the house.
Firefighters battled flames for about an hour. Dave Mottram of Merseyside Fire & Rescue paid tribute to the "valiant" efforts of the police officers who tried to save the couple.
He said: "The fire service were alerted by the police who discovered the fire whilst in attendance at another incident in the street.
"Police officers made valiant attempts to save the occupiers, forcing entry through the front door, but unfortunately they were unable to do so due to the effects of severe heat and smoke."
A map showing the location of the fire
An examination of the scene, which has been sealed off, will begin today as the cause of the fire is investigated jointly by Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.
It is not clear what age the couple were as police began house-to-house enquiries.
Fire crews and police scrambled to the scene
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "We are not releasing the name of the couple until their next of kin have been traced and informed.
"There's nothing to suggest the fire is suspicious at this time."