Neighbours pay tribute to ‘really nice family’
DEVASTATED neighbours of the umerjis have paid tribute to the ‘really nice family’ with impeccably behaved children who had lived on the road for more than 15 years.
Flowers and toys have now been placed at the scene of the tragedy with messages of support.
The police cordon was lifted yesterday afternoon and neighbours used the opportunity to praise the family.
Mohamed randera, 61, said: “They were a really nice, traditional Muslim family and all the children were very good and well behaved.
“They were really part of the community, everyone has been crying. My wife is very upset, everyone is all the way along the street.
“Four people have died and it is a real loss for our close community. A lot of prayers have been said for them. At 9 in the morning the man was at his window shouting ‘help me, help me, my wife and children are inside’. He had a baby girl, she was only five years old. He put both his hands through the window and broke it but fire shot out, there was no way he could get in.”
Maimuna Choksi, 80, said: “The children were outside playing all the time. All of them were very nice, you would see them after school. When I was outside they would wave at me through the window.
“Aneesa was a very good girl, she used to come here and I would visit her. We would sit and talk, sometimes about cooking. she was good at cooking and baking.
“Her husband was a really good boy and all of them were an important part of the street. I am very sad.”
Mohammed Adam said: “The kids were really joyful, doing what all kids do. going to school, having friends round and playing out. People can’t get the picture of the children out of their heads.
“The family were friendly with all their neighbours. The whole community of bolton is in shock, not just the few houses near where they lived.
“now is when he needs his family around him the most but he has got a good family and a lot of friends. I would ask everyone to keep the children and their mother in their prayers.”
Asif Hanif, he owns the beauty Lounge, a salon where Mrs umerji went, on nearby st Helens road.
He said: “It is a tragedy, her husband has lost his world. They were a well known family and we just wanted to pass on our condolences.
“We are so sorry for his loss, he must be under great trauma. When I heard what happened it went straight through me, my heart sank.
“When I pulled up to open the business there were fire engines, police and ambulances. The road was full of emergency vehicles. I knew it wasn’t just a normal house fire.”
Firefighters, meanwhile, are going house-to-house in the area to give residents fire safety advice in the wake of the tragedy.
More than 100 homes have been visited already.
The fire service said firefighters and engines would remain in the area in the days ahead.
bolton group manager Lee Coleman said: “It has been a terrible fire with terrible consequences.
“We are knocking on doors and giving them help and safety advice.”