A tragic house fire in the early hours of Saturday, May 24, in Brent, north-west London, has claimed the lives of a mother and her three young children. Emergency services were called at around 01:20 BST to Tillett Close in the Stonebridge area, where two adjoining terraced houses were engulfed in flames. Despite the efforts of around 70 firefighters and eight fire engines, four family members were pronounced dead at the scene.
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The victims have been named by police as Nusrat Usman, 43, and her three children—15-year-old Maryam Mikaiel, eight-year-old Musa Usman, and four-year-old Raees Usman. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Nusrat was the mother of the three children.
Murder Suspect in Custody
A 41-year-old man was arrested outside the property shortly after the incident on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. Authorities have not yet confirmed his relationship to the victims. The Met Police and London Fire Brigade are conducting a joint investigation into the cause of the blaze, which gutted both homes.
Police have stated that detectives from the Met’s local policing team are leading the investigation, with support from fire investigators. Superintendent Steve Allen called it an “extremely tragic incident” and said the wider family is being supported by officers.
Two Family Members Hospitalised
Two other members of the same family—a 71-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl—were also in the house when the fire broke out. Both were rescued from the property by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. The elderly woman has since been discharged from hospital, but the teenage girl remains in critical condition. According to emergency services, both were given immediate emergency care, but the mother and one child rescued from the second floor were later declared dead at the scene by air ambulance medics.
Community in Mourning
Neighbours and local leaders have expressed shock and sorrow. The family, originally from Pakistan, had reportedly lived in the area for over 20 years. Mohamed Labidi, a 38-year-old teacher who lives nearby, described the family as “really good people” and said the tragedy was “heartbreaking.”
Another resident who witnessed the fire said she was “stunned by the devastation” and heard screaming and smashing glass during the early morning hours. “We’ve all lived in these houses for 25, 30 years. Everyone knows everyone. It’s a very tragic time,” she said.
Official Condolences and Support Efforts
Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt offered his “deepest condolences” and said a rest centre had been set up nearby to support affected residents. “We are working closely with the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police as they conduct their investigations,” he stated.
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This is devastating news and my thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community of the four people who sadly have lost their lives.
I remain in close contact with the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police as they work to establish the cause of the fire and offer… https://t.co/a2JxFNwLda
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) May 24, 2025
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan posted on X (formerly Twitter): “This is devastating news and my thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community.” Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster of the London Fire Brigade also extended condolences and confirmed that efforts to determine the fire’s cause are ongoing.