Four boys die in house fire in December 2021 after mother leaves

In December 2021, a tragic house fire in Sutton, south London, claimed the lives of four young boys, aged four and three. Their mother, Deveca Rose, is facing charges of manslaughter after leaving the children unattended while she went shopping. The fire broke out around 6:30 PM, and despite attempts by a neighbor to rescue the boys, the flames had engulfed the home, making it impossible to enter. Firefighters later reported that the children were found surrounded by rubbish and human excrement, with their deaths attributed to inhalation of fire fumes. The investigation revealed that Rose had claimed to leave the children in the care of a friend named Jade, but police were unable to locate this individual despite extensive inquiries. The boys had been known to social services, but their case had been closed just three months prior to the incident. Concerns had been raised by family members regarding the children's welfare, and it was noted that they had not attended school for three weeks leading up to the fire. A fire investigation determined that the blaze was likely caused by a discarded cigarette or an upturned tea light candle, which ignited rubbish on the floor. The children's paternal grandfather expressed his heartbreak over the loss, describing them as “smart and beautiful grandsons” in a tribute shared on social media. This devastating incident has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the children's care and the actions of their mother, as well as the role of social services in their lives prior to the tragedy.