Four people, including a 43-year-old woman and three boys aged 15, eight and four, have died in a devastating house fire in Brent, north-west London.
The blaze broke out at Tillett Close in Stonebridge during the early hours of Saturday morning, with emergency services called to the scene at around 01:20 BST.
London Ambulance Service described it as an "extremely tragic incident" as they confirmed four fatalities at the scene.
A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with the fire and remains in police custody.
Cecilia Marquis witnessed the scenes of horror
GB NEWS / PA
Two additional people were taken to hospital, though their conditions have not been disclosed.
Cecilia Marquis, a 60-year-old resident who grew up on the estate, witnessed the aftermath of the devastating fire.
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The fire occurred in the early hours of Saturday morningPA"It's a tragedy. I witnessed an elderly lady and a younger lady brought out and taken away in an ambulance," she told GB News.
The emotional impact of the incident was clear in her account.
"I'm sad because I'm thinking about the people in there, the children had their whole lives ahead of them," she said.
"The family is gone and there is no coming back. I feel numb. I'm stunned by the devastation."
Cecilia Marquis spoke on GB News
GB NEWS
She described how the fire had affected her personally, saying: "My clothes were smelling of the fire. I had to have a shower when I got in."
Marquis drew parallels to the Grenfell Tower disaster, raising concerns about building materials.
"I'm shocked because this could happen on the streets of London today," she said. "Everyone has speculation as to what it could be. It brings me back to Grenfell. What is the material of the house made of?"
She highlighted the close community bonds in the area affected by the tragedy.
"Two people have now tragically lost their lives. It's a family-orientated estate and everyone knows each other. It's an eclectic mix of cultures," she explained.
"We just all get on and there's respect for each other."
The London Ambulance Service detailed their response to the incident, stating they were called at 01:22 on Saturday.
"We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, incident response officers, an advanced paramedic, @LAS_HART and @LDNAirAmb," their statement read.
In total, the service treated six patients at the scene and assessed a further six, while another person was treated by police.
The Met Police confirmed that a 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with the fire.
The investigation into the cause of the blaze is ongoing as the community comes to terms with the tragedy.
