A woman was killed when a huge fire tore through a terraced house in Blackpool.
The woman, in her 40s, was rushed to hospital but sadly died following the incident which left four other people injured – including two children.
A man in his 50s is in a serious but stable condition after being taken to a specialist burns unit at Wythenshaw Hospital in Manchester.
Three people, aged 13, 16 and 26, were taken to hospital but police have said their condition is not described as life-threatening. Another child, aged 15, escaped unharmed.
Firefighters were called to a blaze in a three-storey property on Hill Street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Despite the woman being taken to nearby Victoria Hospital, she sadly died.
Neighbours were evacuated from their homes as a result of the fire, which Lancashire Police say is not being treated as suspicious.
Six fire engines attended the Lancashire seaside town, with the blaze igniting just a couple of streets away from Blackpool's famous tower.
The police and fire service have started a joint investigation to establish the cause of the fire.
The Sun quoted a next door neighbour, who only gave her name as Kim, saying her family was woken by "screams and loud banging".
She added: "We opened the window and there was loads of smoke coming in, it was everywhere. We came downstairs and the flames were blowing out of the building.
"We saw a lady on the ground and we believe she jumped out the window to get out."
A fire service spokesman said: "At 12.50am, six fire engines from Blackpool, Bispham, St Annes, Fulwood and South Shore along with the drone team and the aerial ladder platform from Preston attended an incident on Hill Street, Blackpool.
"The incident involved a fire at a domestic property. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used two hose reels to bring the fire under control.
"Five casualties were treated by North West Ambulance Service.”
Police have asked for any witnesses to come forward with information.
