Blaze victim named as two-year-old Libby-Jayne Hornsby

The toddler was pulled from a burning house on Don Street, Conisbrough, by firefighters who entered the property shortly after 8pm last night (17).

Three other children, including Libby-Jane’s brother Dylan (6), escaped the house unharmed but efforts to save his sister proved fruitless.

It is understood that her mother, Kelly, was out of the house at the time of the blaze.

Firefighters and police have been jointly investigating the fire which a fire service spokesman revealed was “confined to an upstairs bedroom.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but fire investigators have confirmed the blaze involved bedding.

No evidence of working smoke alarms inside the property.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue area manager, Steve Green, said: "This was a truly tragic incident and our thoughts are very much with all of those affected. Multi-agency investigations into what caused the fire are still ongoing.

"Working smoke alarms give you the extra moments to escape if a fire starts and we once again urge people to have working alarms fitted on every level of their homes."

Don Valley MP Caroline Flint offered her condolences to the family for their “terrible loss”.

She added: “The loss of a young child in such circumstances is a tragedy that will touch the whole community. 

“It is times like this we appreciate the vital role of our emergency services, but even their determination could not prevent this loss of life.”