Two men held after mother and child die in fire

Two men are being held on suspicion of murder after a 22-year-old woman and her baby son were killed in a house fire.

Emergency services were called to reports of a blaze at a terraced house in Chatham Hill, Chatham, Kent, at around 2.30am on Saturday.

On Saturday afternoon, Kent Police said they had arrested two men in Coventry in connection with the fire.

The dead woman and her son, who was 15 months old, have not yet been named.

Three other people were taken to hospital and treated for injuries sustained in the fire.

One of them – a 49-year-old man, believed to be the woman’s father – is in hospital with life-threatening burns after the fire.

A 21-year-old man, believed to be the brother of the woman who died, suffered a broken ankle, while a woman believed to be her mother is in a serious condition with burn and smoke inhalation injuries.

Kent Police confirmed that the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Tragically, two people, a woman believed to be in her 20s and an infant boy, died in the fire. Kent Police

A spokeswoman said: “Tragically, two people, a woman believed to be in her 20s and an infant boy, died in the fire.

“Three casualties were taken to hospital and neighbouring properties were evacuated.

“A man has suffered serious burns and is described as being in a life-threatening condition at East Grinstead hospital.

“A man, thought to be in his 20s, has suffered serious injuries (broken bones) and a woman suffered burn and smoke inhalation injuries.

“They are both currently being treated at Medway Maritime Hospital.”

Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome said: “This is a tragic incident and we have launched a joint investigation with Kent Fire and Rescue Service to establish exactly what has happened.”