Boy, 5 and girl, 3, die in house fire after playing with lighter while mum slept

Two young children, Louis Busuioc, aged five, and his three-year-old sister Desir, tragically lost their lives in a devastating house fire in Preston. The incident occurred on April 8, 2022, where the siblings were playing with a lighter while their mother, Lorena, was asleep. The heartbreaking accident unfolded as the children managed to unlock a bedroom door with a coat hanger, allowing them to access the downstairs area where the fire started.

Emergency services were alerted by a neighbour who noticed flames in the front living room window at 7.52pm. Despite efforts to save the children, including Lorena’s desperate attempt to push them out of a window, both Louis and Desir sustained severe brain injuries from the smoke, which were deemed unsurvivable by medical professionals.

During the inquest, it was revealed that the firefighters went above and beyond, risking their own safety to rescue the children swiftly. Dr Adam Nicholls, a consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine, highlighted the irreversible damage caused by smoke inhalation in such scenarios. While acknowledging minor delays in emergency response, the coroner concluded that these factors did not contribute to the tragic outcome.

The coroner ruled the children’s deaths as accidental, emphasising that the fire was started unintentionally by one of the children playing with a lighter. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent curiosity of children and the need for constant vigilance to prevent such accidents.

In the face of this heart-wrenching tragedy, the community has united in sorrow and support for the family. The valiant efforts of the emergency services in responding to the incident have been recognised, underscoring their commitment to preserving life despite the risks involved.

As investigations into the circumstances of the fire continue, the focus remains on honouring the memory of Louis and Desir while advocating for heightened awareness of fire safety measures, especially in households with young children.

**Insights and Summary:**

The tragic incident involving the young siblings playing with a lighter that resulted in a fatal house fire highlights the importance of child safety and the need for constant supervision. The swift response of emergency services and the selfless actions of firefighters in attempting to rescue the children exemplify the dedication and bravery exhibited in the face of such harrowing events. This serves as a poignant reminder for families to educate children on fire safety practices and implement preventative measures to ensure their well-being. The ruling of accidental deaths underscores the devastating consequences that can arise from seemingly innocuous activities, prompting a renewed focus on vigilance and precautionary measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.