Family 'devastated' by fire deaths

The intense fire completely destroyed the house

The mother of three young girls who died in a fire at their East Yorkshire home has been described by her family as "inconsolable" after the tragedy. Speaking for the first time since the fatal fire in Goole, the family of Samantha Appleton, six, Joanne, three, and 17-month-old Bethany, said they were "devastated" at the deaths of the "amazing"children. And they urged members of the public to fit smoke alarms in their homes after revealing that none were installed in the Fourth Avenue house. In a statement, Louise Appleton, the girls' mother, Kevin and Pat Appleton, grandparents to the girls, and Joanne Appleton, the children's aunt, said: "As a family we are devastated by the death of Bethany, Joanne and Samantha - our children, grandchildren and nieces. "They were amazing little girls who adored their mother and wouldn't have heard a word said against her. Louise loved them as only a mother could. They stuck together as a family." The girls' grandparents added: "Louise is inconsolable and suffering very badly. We are offering her support and our love and her sister Joanne, although devastated and upset, is being really supportive as well. "We'll never get over this, of course, and we now need to be left alone to grieve for Bethany, Joanne and Samantha. We need to begin to rebuild our lives through the difficult days to come." The family urged people to fit smoke alarms in their homes. "We can say that there were no smoke alarms fitted in the house. You can't imagine what we feel about that now but what we want every single family in this country to do is get them fitted today. "Don't wait until next week or after Christmas or next pay day, borrow the money if you have to and get them fitted now," they said. The family thanked everyone who had helped and supported them, describing them all as "heroes". They gave particular praise to neighbours and firefighters who tried to rescue the children. "We want to thank the neighbours who attempted rescue, we know that they were faced with an impossible job, but they tried. "We want to thank the Fire Brigade staff who were so courageous and we hope that those who were injured are recovering."

On Thursday, a Humberside Police spokesman said it could take until the middle of next week before investigators could pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, which ripped through the three-bedroom terrace house in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The cause of the fire is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.