Fundraiser hopes to raise money for family of Blackpool fire couple

A couple who died in a house fire leaving their two young children orphaned have been named locally, as a fundraiser for the family was launched.

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

Their children, two boys aged six and one, are both in hospital. A police and fire investigation is underway into the cause of the blaze.

Police have not formally confirmed the identity of the couple but an appeal has been launched on GoFundMe, which has already raised £1,700 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 starts: “On the 17th of July our family lost my brother Josh who was 28 and his Mrs, Danielle who was 24, due to a house fire which had lead to us sadly loosing Josh, and Danielle at a very young age, also leaving their 2 precious boys Oscar 6 and Lorenzo 18 months without parents.

“Both boys left in hospital one in a coma very unwell and one unwell.”

It says: “Any funds raised will be towards the funeral costs of both Josh and Danielle and anything left over will be for headstones or the boys.

“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.

“Thanks for any help or donations.”

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.”

Police said firefighters and officers were called to the address at 2.39am on Wednesday to reports of a blaze with people inside.

Detectives say they are keeping an “open mind” as to the cause. No arrests have been made.

Chief Superintendent Mike Gladwin, of Lancashire Police, said: “This incident has resulted in two people losing their lives and my thoughts are with their loved ones at this extremely distressing time.

“I know this tragic news will be met with great sadness in the local community and people will want instant answers.

“However, there are grieving loved ones still trying to come to terms with this devastating news.

“With that in mind, I would ask for patience and that people avoid unhelpful and upsetting speculation.”