THREE little girls died as their mother stood helpless outside their blazing East Yorkshire home early today.

The girls, aged 17 months, three and six, were found dead by fire crews at their terraced house in Fourth Avenue, Goole.

Two firefighters suffered burns as crews battled heavy smoke, flames and temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees in a vain attempt to rescue the girls.

Their mother was taken to hospital in Goole suffering the effects of smoke inhalation, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said.

The blaze was so fierce that 19 neighbouring households had to be evacuated.

Station Officer Nick Grainger said he had never known a fire as severe and with such loss of life in 18 years in the service.

He praised the "heroic" actions of four of his officers who tried to rescue the girls.

"Two accessed the building on the ground floor while two went to the back and gained access on the first floor," he said.

"All four managed to get to the bedroom but it was obvious from the extent of the girls' injuries they were dead.

"Their actions were truly heroic. I can't put into words what they have done."

Mr Grainger said two of his officers received burn injuries as the intense blaze began to melt their equipment.

Mr Grainger said the priority now was to establish a cause of the blaze, into which an investigation has already begun.

Firefighters had been called to the house at 1.56am, where they found the girls' mother outside.

She told them that her children were trapped inside and it was then that the two fire crews entered the property and tried to save them.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, November 12, 2003