An 11-year-old schoolgirl and 45-year-old man have tragically died after a devastating fire at a Chinese restaurant in Lincolnshire.
Five other people were rushed to hospital following the fatal blaze, including two other children sustaining injuries, with a woman in her 30s remaining in hospital and is in a "serious condition".
An investigation has confirmed that the fire on Wednesday morning was accidentally started by an air fryer within the restaurant.
Six ambulances and two paramedics in solo cars attended the scene, along with five crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, Lincolnshire Police and an air ambulance.
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Two men in their 40s, and two children under the age of ten, have since been released from hospital.
Emergency services were called to the address on Manby Middlegate, Grimoldby, in Lincolnshire, at around 6.10am on Wednesday.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has confirmed the cause to be accidental and related to the use of an air fryer, while police said that a report is being prepared for the coroner.
Mark Baxter, chief fire officer of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service has offered his condolences to the family.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue attended the scene
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He said: “Upon arrival at the scene, crews were met with a well developed fire, which has tragically claimed the lives of two people, left another in a critical condition, and injured several others.
“Following fire investigations in conjunction with Lincolnshire Police and the regional fire investigations dog, we have determined this was started by an air fryer igniting nearby objects.
“This will be an extremely difficult time for the family, their friends, and the tight-knit community, and our thoughts and condolences go out to them all".
Paramedic units also attended the scene to take casualties to hospital, with an air ambulance on the scene.
A spokesperson for East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We received a call at 6.22am on Wednesday, February 18, to a property fire at Manby Middlegate in Grimoldby.
"We sent six ambulances and two paramedics in solo response cars, supported on scene by a senior manager and critical care teams.
"The air ambulance also attended.
"Four patients were taken to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby via ambulances, and one patient was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham via air ambulance".
The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the fire was put out on Wednesday morning, but a road closure remained in place whilst fire investigators worked at the scene to determine a cause.
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