FOUR children, two of them less than two years-old, died in three separate fires in three parishes on Tuesday.

The dead kids are:

* Nefetari Jackson, 18 months-old of Buff Bay, Portland;

* Brandon Bailey, 23 months-old of Lime Hall, St Ann;

* Reggie Thompson, six years-old, and his sister;

* Nicole Thompson, five years-old, both of Patrick City, Kingston 20.

The blaze in which Nefetari died occurred at about 3:25 pm.

Police say the child’s mother, Norma Higgins, left her at their Baker Street home with her 70 year-old blind grandmother and a three-year-old child to go to a shop. The grandmother and the three-year-old were outside, while the infant was sleeping inside the house, which is located next to the Buff Bay fire station.

Residents told the Observer that a fireman, Lance Corporal J Gilbert, who was across the road from the house, saw the fire and raised an alarm.

Although the blaze was put out by the firefighters, they were unable to save the baby.

The incident took a heavy toll on Higgins who wept uncontrollably and had to be comforted by neighbours and friends.

Just over five hours later, at about 8:45 pm, the fire that claimed the life of Brandon Bailey started after a power outage in Lime Hall district.

Police say the baby’s stepfather, who was at the house, left the child there after the blackout to make a phone call nearby when he heard an explosion and then saw the house on fire.

After the flames were extinguished by the St Ann’s Bay Fire Department, Brandon’s body was found in the burnt out building.

The third fire, in which Nicole and Reggie Thompson died, started at approximately 11:55 pm at Maynard Avenue, Patrick City in the Corporate Area.

According to the Constabulary Communication Network, the children’s mother was at home with them and her other three kids when the fire started.

The mother and the three children were able to escape from the flames which were put out by the Half-Way-Tree Fire brigade.