Girl, 7, and aunt killed in house fire a mile from A66 crash site as two men arrested
A seven-year-old girl and her aunt died in a house fire near the site of the A66 crash.
Valentina Foster, seven, and Natalie McDonald, 34, died in the fire at a house in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of this morning.
The house fire was less than a mile away from the site of a crash on the A66 which killed seven people, including two police officers.
Cleveland Police said two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and they remain in police custody following the fire.
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Lisa Kirton, Natalie’s heartbroken mother, told The Times that her daughter ‘was a beautiful, bubbly person who everyone knew’ and that Valentina was ‘a very cute girl’.
She said: “She had a heart of gold who would give anyone anything. She left behind a daughter with no parents.
“We live opposite and were woken up at about 5am and there were people getting dragged out of fires when we were there at the scene.
“We were waiting for Natalie to come out and after about three hours police told us she had died.”
In an interview with the BBC, she said Valentina, known as Tina, had been spending the summer holidays with her family.
She said: "She was a cute little kid. I can't believe it, seven years old - it's just a disgrace."
A 20-year-old neighbour described running up and down the street, shouting to raise the alarm, and how local residents tried to rescue the occupants.
Ellie, who declined to give her surname, said: “The entire house was scorching.
“I couldn’t get near the front of the house, it was that hot.”
She described holding the hand of a crying woman who had jumped from an upstairs window, staying with her until paramedics arrived.
Officers have refused to rule out a link between the fire and the crash.
Superintendent Emily Harrison said: “As we continue to investigate this morning’s tragic incident, we continue to support the families of those who have sadly died as a result.
“Our thoughts remain with those families and with everyone involved.
“Two men, aged 23 and 31, remain in police custody at this time and they are being questioned.
“We continue to work to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time.
“We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area and encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information, to approach our officers or alternatively call us on 101.”
In a statement earlier today, Cleveland Police said officers were called to the property at 5.23am on Wednesday and confirmed two people had died, ‘including one child’.
The force said that a 48-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle.
Three other people suffered injuries which are believed to be non life-threatening.
Redcar Labour MP Anna Turley said in a statement: “My deepest condolences are with the families, friends and loved ones of those who have died, and my thoughts are also with those injured and receiving treatment.
“Our community has faced a profound amount of heartbreak over the past few weeks.
“Please keep everyone affected in your thoughts, give the emergency services the space they need, and avoid speculation as Cleveland Police & emergency services continue their investigation.”
The blaze happened close to the A66 and less than a mile from the scene of a crash on Saturday between a VW Passat, which was evading police and heading in the wrong direction on the dual-carriageway, and a marked police armed response vehicle.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed in the collision.
On Wednesday, an online appeal to help the officers’ families passed the £1 million mark.
Claire Reid