WERE BLAZE TRAGEDY FAMILY MURDERED? Cops treating house fire that killed girl, 8 and dad, 45, as suspicious

Family members paid tribute to the pair killed in the horrific house fire with investigators now at the scene

AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl and her father have been killed in a fire that raged through their home – with police now treating the blaze as suspicious.

Dad Andy Broadhead and eight-year-old Kiera were caught in the blaze that tore through the semi-detached red brick home in Ash Crescent, Stanley, with wife Sara, 35, and eldest daughter Mia, 13, managing to escape.

Andy Broadhead and his daughter Keira, 8, died in a house fire that wife Sara and eldest daughter, Mia, escaped — Andy Broadhead and his daughter Keira, 8, (bottom right) died in a house fire that wife Sara and eldest daughter, Mia, escaped

Little Keira was killed in the fire that tore through her home, with neighbours saying the young family had only just returned from a holiday — Little Keira (left) was killed in the fire that tore through her home, with neighbours saying the young family had only just returned from a holiday

Tragic death of eight-year-old girl and 42-year-old from fatal house fire in Stanley

Both Andy, 42, and Kiera were killed in the fire, with Sara and Mia being taken to hospital for treatment.
Police have now revealed they are treating the blaze as suspicious, with more information to be released this afternoon.
The family had only just returned from a holiday in Spain with Andrew's parents, Alan and Jean Broadhead - returning the day before the fire.

A fire tore through the semi-detached red brick home in the early hours of Wednesday morning

Police are now examining the scene with fire investigators

As fire investigators now examine the scene to find out how the blaze started, devastated Alan and Jean, both 68, have spoken out of their heartbreak.

Alan said: "We have just come back from holiday. We were all on holiday together in Spain, but (Jean and I) stayed longer.

His voice breaking, he said: "It is such a shock. It was very difficult to hear the news when we were abroad. We lost a son and a granddaughter."

He said his wife was struggling with the news, saying both could not believe what had happened.

Friends have also spoken of their shock with neighbour and family friend Graham Morton saying: "People are just shocked, Andy were a good friend of mine.

"Andy were a great bloke, you wouldn't find a better lad."

He added: "He were a phenomenal guy, he was a great guy, a fantastic father."

When asked if he thought Mr Broadhead had tried to save his daughter, Mr Morton said: "I'll ask you the same question, if you daughter was in a house fire what would you do?

"Apparently two were out and two were stuck."

He said little Kiera, who died in the fire was "a very funny child".

Graham said: "The little girls were both a little pair of petite, adorable, loving, pleasant, kids."

It is such a shock... We lost a son and a granddaughter
Alan BroadheadFather of Andrew Broadhead

Another neighbour Ethel Parkinson said the family had "everything going for them.

Lofthouse Gate Working Mens Club also paid tribute to the family, saying: "The secretary and committee would like to offer their sincere condolences to the Broadhead family on the sudden death of Andrew Broadhead and his little daughter Kiera.

"Lovely people who will be sadly missed".

Mr Broadhead reportedly worked as a rail engineer at the Neville Hill Train Maintenance Depot in Leeds.

A spokesperson for Northern Rail told The Yorkshire Evening Post: "We were deeply shocked and saddened to hear that one of our colleagues has died following a fire.

"We will be supporting the Northern team at Neville Hill Train Maintenance Depot while they come to terms with this terrible news.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."

Police are examining the home at Ash Crescent in Wakefield after the fatal fire

The surviving members of the family have since been discharged from hospital, with investigators now at their home examining the scene

Emergency services were called to the home about 4.20am on Wednesday with neighbours saying two people had become trapped in the blaze

There was obvious smoke damage to the windows on the top floor of the property, with some of the glass shattered and blackened.

West Yorkshire Police said emergency services had been called to the house about 4.20am on Wednesday.
Chief Superintendent Mabs Hussain, District Commander of Wakefield Police, said: "This is clearly a very serious and tragic incident in which a man and a young girl have lost their lives.

"Their family are absolutely devastated by what has taken place and we are working to support them in any way we can."

He said that the fire would cause "great shock" to locals in the Stanley area.

He said: "We are working closely with the fire service to determine the cause of this fire and those enquiries are at an early stage."

20 Oct 2016