A devastating Boxing Day house fire in Gloucestershire has claimed the lives of a mother and her two young children, with the father - a serving police officer - surviving the blaze.
A Desperate Escape Attempt
The fire broke out at a property on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, in the early hours of Friday, 26 December 2025. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 3am. The mother and father awoke to the fire and immediately tried to reach their children's bedroom but were driven back by the intensity of the flames.
In a statement on Monday 29 December, Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher described the father's harrowing escape. "The father smashed his way out of the house through a bathroom window in a desperate attempt to access the children's bedroom from outside," he said. "Tragically, he was unable to get back into the property."
Emergency Response and Investigation
Officers from Gloucestershire Police attended alongside crews from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance teams. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton said firefighters worked "extremely hard" to enter the fiercely burning house.
The mother and her two children - a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy - were initially unaccounted for. Police have since confirmed their deaths. The father was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for treatment.
Authorities have stated the fire is not being treated as suspicious and is considered a "tragic accident". The property sustained significant internal damage, and investigations continue to establish the cause of the blaze.
Community in Mourning
DSI Fletcher highlighted the traumatic scene witnessed by neighbours. "We have multiple witnesses who describe the anguish that he was going through, his inability to get in and save his children and save his wife," he said during a briefing.
The local community in Stroud is coming to terms with the profound loss, particularly given the family's connection to Gloucestershire Police. The incident marks a heartbreaking start to the new year for the area, with support expected to be offered to all those affected, including emergency service colleagues.
