Couple who died in Blackpool house fire named by police

A couple who died in a house fire, leaving their two young children orphaned, have been named by police.

Josh Pearson, 28, and Danielle Bamber, 24, both perished in the blaze which started at around 2.30am on Wednesday morning on Peter Street in Blackpool, Lancashire.

Their children, two boys aged six and 20-months-old, were both taken to hospital after the fire. While the six-year-old did not sustain any serious injuries, the 20-month-old remains in hospital in a poorly condition, Lancashire Police said.

A police and fire investigation is under way into the cause of the blaze, but has not yet found any evidence that it was started deliberately.

A tribute from Mr Pearson’s family, issued by Lancashire Police, said: “Joshua was a much-loved son, that will be sorely missed, who adored his girlfriend and children.”

While a statement from Ms Bamber’s family said: “We as a family are devastated by what has happened to Danielle, our daughter, and her family.

“Please allow us respect as a family to grieve in peace and refrain from any further speculation on social media and to refrain from posting further pictures of Danielle and her family. Please respect our wishes at our time.”

An appeal has been launched on GoFundMe, which has already raised £3,140 in donations for their funeral and their surviving sons.

The appeal was launched by Codie Lee, who said Danielle Bamber was her “best mate” at school, followed by a tribute she said was from Mr Pearson’s sister on behalf of the family.

It says: “Their little boys have also been left with nothing due to losing everything in the house fire, no clothes, toys or anything, any little fund make a difference.”

Earlier, Kara-Marie Pearson told how her partner, Jake Hartill – who did not want to speak to reporters, saved a young boy from the fire after smashing a glass panel in the front door of the home engulfed in flames.

Ms Pearson said: “If he hadn’t got that little boy out, he’d be dead. “I heard this almighty bang and I looked out my bedroom window and the whole downstairs was literally in flames.

“You couldn’t even see it, it was pure orange. It was like an explosion.

“All I could hear was the dad screaming out, ‘Help! Help! Help!’”

She said her partner used a bat to smash the glass panel in the front door to lift the boy to safety.

Ms Pearson added: “His skin was red hot, it was burning. Once we moved the little boy to safety, the whole windows just smashed, just blew. We all had to stand back because the flames came right out.

“It was like a wildfire, you can’t explain how them flames were. “And obviously Dad had stopped shouting at this point, so…

“Smoke must have got to him. “It was traumatising. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It wasn’t just like a normal house fire, that was like a wildfire. It doesn’t bear thinking about, those poor kids have got no mum and dad.”

Chief Superintendent Mike Gladwin, of Lancashire Police, said: “My thoughts today are with those impacted by this tragic event. “This is an absolutely heartbreaking incident which has resulted in two people losing their lives, and two young children losing their parents. One of those young people remains very poorly in hospital.”

“Our work to try and understand exactly what has happened to cause this devastating fire is ongoing and when we are in a position to give further updates we will do so, but as I’m sure people will appreciate this may take some time.”