Murder arrest after three people die house fire

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people, including a four-year-old girl, died in a house fire at a converted railway station.

Emergency services were called to the Grade II-listed property in Rushton, near Kettering, at about 22:30 GMT on Friday.

Northamptonshire Police has confirmed the other two people who died were a 23-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman. The victims’ next of kin have been informed.

The arrested man, 54 from Kettering, was held on Saturday and remains in police custody.

“This is a heartbreaking situation,” said senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Ruby Burrow, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.

“My thoughts, and those of everyone involved in responding to this fire, are with the people who died and those who love them,” she added.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from across the county to the scene. They remained there throughout Saturday.

Specialist fire investigators and investigation dogs are at the property to help police establish the cause of the fire.

“Due to the intensity of the fire we are managing a very challenging and dangerous scene, and are working to safely and respectfully recover the deceased to enable formal identification to take place,” added Det Ch Insp Burrow.

“An incredibly thorough and complex investigation is underway to make sure we get the answers that loved ones need and deserve.”

Villagers told the BBC they had been “traumatised” by the tragedy, with one saying “everyone is very sad”.

At a media conference on Sunday, Ch Insp Paul Cash said: “This investigation is well under way but remains in its early stages, and it will take time to fully establish what has happened.

“We know this incident has caused significant distress locally and our officers will remain in the area to provide reassurance and help where we can.”

Drone pictures show a large hole burned through the roof of the building, which is a 19th Century former station master’s house at the now-closed Glendon and Rushton railway station.

According to the Historic England website, it has been a Grade II-listed building since 1981, and is now believed to be a residential property.

After Friday’s fire, one person was taken to hospital by the East Midlands Ambulance Service. Three police officers also needed to be checked in hospital after breathing in smoke.

Mike Brightman, vice chairman of Rushton Parish Council, said it had been a “very sad day for the village, losing some of our residents in such a horrific way”.

The MP for Kettering, Rosie Wrighting, said she was “saddened by this tragic fire” and said her thoughts were with the “family and friends of those involved and everyone in the Rushton community”.