A community is in mourning after a 13 year old girl tragically lost her life in a devastating house fire. The scene outside the Prescot, Merseyside home has become a makeshift memorial, with flowers, teddy bears, and dolls laid in tribute today following the horrific incident that unfolded just before midnight on Wednesday.

While a man, woman, and five children managed to flee the property unscathed, the young teenager was sadly confirmed deceased at the location. The fire is believed to have taken hold just before midnight on Wednesday, April 2.

Upon arrival, they encountered smoke billowing from the mid-terraced dwelling, with the blaze raging in a first-floor rear bedroom. Fire crews successfully quelled the flames by 12.29am Thursday morning. Police maintained a presence throughout the night, and firefighters concluded their efforts at 2.20am.

Local residents recounted the harrowing sounds of shouting and screaming emanating from the residence late on Wednesday. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, one neighbour recalled: "We woke up at about 11.43pm to shouts and screams."

"I saw huge flames coming from the house at the back. Because of the dogs I couldn't walk out. It's so sad. It's even more tragic considering they experienced a similar ordeal in July. They had only recently returned after refurbishing the entire house. The whole situation is just crazy. It's normally quite quiet down here and we have lots of children on the street. It's just terrible. People have been coming all day to leave flowers."

Another local recounted the panic of rushing into the street, fearing it was their own home ablaze, reports The Mirror.

The harrowing experience was shared by the distressed parent: "I had to get my kids out the house early this morning. It was a whirlwind of a night. At first someone said it was my house so I had to get my two children out on my own."

They recounted the urgency fuelled by fear, "My parents live at the back and they rang me saying: you need to get out your house is on fire. When we got outside we realised it was them. I've got kids and it's just the scariest thought in the world losing a child."

A collaborative probe by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's Incident Investigation Team and Merseyside Police is underway into the blaze's origin, complemented by comprehensive house-to-house and CCTV enquiries along the road.

Merseyside Police Detective Inspector Steven O'Neill extended his heartfelt sentiments, stating: "Our thoughts are with the family of the young girl at this very sad time. A joint investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing and the girl's family is being supported by specially trained officers."