Mom and 3 Children Killed in House Fire Sparked by Firework: ‘Tragic Accident’

A mother and her three young children were killed in a house fire sparked by a firework, according to an inquest.

In a news release, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) shared that the Kishen family had been celebrating the festival of Diwali on the night of the incident in Hounslow, West London, on Nov. 11, 2023. Seema Ratra, 47, and her three children, Riyan, 11, Arohi, 8, and Shanaya, 4, died along with two of their guests, Nitin Chopra, 28 and Sandhaya Chopra, 20.

At the inquest at West London Coroners Court on Aug. 29, Senior Coroner Lydia Brown described the “heroic” attempts of Seema’s husband and the children’s father, Aroen Kishen, to tackle the blaze.

The LFB said Aroen sustained burns before losing consciousness, and when he regained consciousness, the fire — which started outdoors before “breaching the exterior” of the house — had spread. 

“Mr Kishen desperately tried to alert those upstairs, but the fire was so severe that he had no choice but to rush out,” the release added. “The Brigade believes the most probable cause of the fire was a firework igniting combustible recycling waste in a plastic recycling bin. The origin of the firework is unknown.”

Consultant Pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl said in court that the six individuals died as a result of the inhalation of smoke fumes. Fegan-Earl believes the children and adults would have been “overcome” by smoke in “no more than a few minutes.” 

Senior Coroner Brown described the incident as a “catastrophic accidental house fire” and concluded it was a “tragic accident.”

Around 70 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze, which spread through the ground and first floor of the house, before reaching the roof. Two separate crews attempted to reach those upstairs before the staircase partially collapsed, per the release. 

In a statement, Paul Askew, Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the London Fire Brigade, said, “On behalf of London Fire Brigade, I’d like to express my condolences to Mr Kishen and all of those affected by this terrible tragedy.”

“On what was meant to be a night of celebration to mark the beginning of Diwali, a tragic accident occurred,” he continued, in part. “In the days and weeks after this fire, the Brigade worked closely with its partners to provide support, including meeting with local residents, attending faith meetings, and joining a guard of honour for the recovery of the family and their guests from the property.”

“This incident sadly highlights the dangers that we know exist with fireworks. We will be working closely with our partners and communities to ensure  Londoners are aware of the risks posed by fireworks, including during religious festivals and other cultural celebrations,” he added.

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A tribute placed near the home at the time described the children as “three beautiful souls,” per the BBC. A bunch of flowers also included a note from their classmates saying they were “all crying today and missing you.”

The children attended Westbrook Primary School, according to the outlet. In a letter sent to parents following the incident, read in part, “Our hearts and thoughts go out to the family. Forever in our hearts, from all who knew and loved you.”