A four year old girl died in a Rusholme fire suspected to be arson. Police arrested a woman known to the child.
Firefighters found the girl badly hurt after breaking into the burning house. This occurred around 12:30 pm on Sunday.
Police arrested a 44-year-old woman suspected of arson with intent to endanger life. She knew the child, police confirmed. The scene was still cordoned off Monday, and neighbors expressed shock.
Neighbors are struggling to understand what occurred and find the girl’s death heartbreaking. The girl has not yet been named, and forensic officers are examining the house.
Police say this was an isolated event, indicating no community risk exists. Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Whalley spoke, sending condolences to the girl’s family. Emergency services tried hard to save her.
The arrested woman knew the girl, and police are not seeking others. The public should feel reassured, she stated. The investigation will fully examine the fire’s cause. Emergency services went to the scene Sunday afternoon when neighbors saw smoke from an upper window.
One woman heard sirens and saw fire engines arrive. Smoke came from the top floor windows, and firefighters ran to the back and front, breaking down the door.
The woman did not know the residents. She said the girl’s death is awful. One man stated a woman and girl lived there and that he has lived there about three years.
Firefighters rescued the girl, who was taken to a hospital for treatment with serious injuries. Sadly, she died despite all efforts to save her.
The 44-year-old woman is in custody and being questioned about the fire. Someone wrote “You are loved” in graffiti on the houses outside back wall.
Ben Levy, a fire service area manager, said crews from several stations responded, including Gorton and Moss Side. He sends condolences to the family. The fire service supports the police and assists the investigation concerning this tragic event.