The Northern Echo
Subscribe
Emergency
Middlesbrough

Further tributes left for victims of Grangetown house fire

Patrick Gouldsbrough Profile Image
By Patrick Gouldsbrough Senior Reporter
Tributes left for fire victims Natalie McDonald, 34, and Valentina Foster, seven, (inset). <i>(Image: STUART BOULTON & SOCIAL MEDIA)</i>
Tributes left for fire victims Natalie McDonald, 34, and Valentina Foster, seven, (inset). (Image: STUART BOULTON & SOCIAL MEDIA)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

Further tributes have been left at the scene of a house fire which killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt.

Valentina Foster and Natalie McDonald, 34, died in the blaze on Birchington Avenue in Grangetown on Wednesday (August 26) morning.

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Andy Burnham has said the Government is offering “all of the support that the authorities need” after a “terribly tragic” Grangetown house fire that killed Natalie, 34, and her niece Valentina, sevenNatalie McDonald, 34, and Valentina Foster, seven. (Image: UGC)

Two men, aged 23 and 31, arrested on suspicion of murder remain in custody.

A48-year-old woman left fighting for her life remains in a “critical but stable” condition at the RVI in Newcastle.

Following the tragic incident, tributes, messages and floral arrangements were left near the Grangetown home.

On Saturday (August 29), further tributes, balloons and stuffed animals have been left near the scene of the devastating fire.

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Pictures of the victims have been left, with messages attached to flowers, cuddly toys and a set of balloons.

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

A 27-year-old man also injured in the fire remains at James Cook University Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, two teenage girls who suffered non-life-threatening injuries have now been discharged following treatment.

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Read more

Flowers left at scene of tragic fire as officers pause for fallen colleagues
Fundraiser set up to support family with funeral of girl, seven, killed in house fire
Prime Minister offers support after 'terribly tragic' house fire that killed child

The property remains unstable and work to make it safe will be carried out in the coming days.

Police said they are not treating the fire as linked to the fatal crash on the A66 which killed seven, including two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.

Officers initially said they could not rule out a link with wider gang violence breaking out on Teesside after the smash, which also killed five young men in a VW Passat going the wrong way up the A66.

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Tributes left at the scene of a fatal fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Emergency
Middlesbrough

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos