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Deadly fire in housing association-owned house still being investigated
A devastating fire in a housing association-owned house, which killed four children in February, is still under investigation more than three months later.
Authorities have yet to confirm what caused the blaze in the Highfields area of Stafford in the early hours of 5 February.
The house is owned by 6,000-home landlord Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH).
Police have already ruled out a faulty boiler and cannabis growing in the home as causes, and there has not been any indication of any wrongdoing by SARH.
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Alan Lyford, detective inspector at Staffordshire Police, said: “The community has been extremely supportive in Highfields and it is understandable there is a continuing demand for answers.
“We owe it to the four children who tragically lost their lives to establish the circumstances of exactly what happened.
“We understand this process is not progressing as quickly as might be expected or wished, but we will conclude and update on this thorough and complex investigation as soon as we are able to.
“We want to thank the community for their patience and support while we continue to investigate.”
Riley Holt, aged eight, Keegan Unitt, aged six, Tilly Rose Unitt, aged four, and Olly Unitt, aged three, lost their lives in the blaze.
Their mother and her partner escaped from the fire through a first-floor window, together with a two-year-old boy.
A 25-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence following the fire but were later released under investigation while enquiries continue.
