Four people dead in Merseyside house fire

Four people dead in Merseyside house fire The deaths were confirmed on Tuesday afternoon - Bookmark Four people have died following a house fire in Merseyside. Emergency services were called to the blaze at a semi-detached property in Stone Square, Bootle, in Sefton, at approximately 3.45am on Tuesday, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed. Speaking from the scene, Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle said four people had died and another person had been taken to hospital following the "intense fire which spread very rapidly". Police officers cordoned off the street on Tuesday morning, with fire crews observed knocking on the doors of neighbouring homes as fire engines arrived and departed from the area. One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "We all came out on the front and we could see smoke coming over from the houses. "The sirens woke me up and there were fire engines in the street." Another woman reported: "I heard shouting in the early hours but I just thought someone was having an argument, then I came downstairs and saw all the fire engines." At the height of the incident, six fire engines were at the scene. Eight firefighters entered the property, which was well alight upon arrival, to search for occupants and tackle the blaze, a fire service spokesman said. More to follow... [Image text:] EMERGENCY AMBULANCE NHS East of England Ambulance Service HHS Trust