THE funeral takes place today of the six members of the same family who died after an electrical fault with a chest freezer sparked a blaze at their Neasden home.

The fire, which broke out at 12.50am from the appliance positioned at the bottom of the stairs, claimed the lives of Muna Elmufatish, 41, daughters Hanin Kua, 14, Basma Kua, 13, and Amal Kua, 9, and sons Mustafa Kua, 5, and Yehya Kua, 2.

Escapees Bassam Kua, the 51-year-old husband of Mrs Elmufaitsh and the father of the family, is still in a stable condition in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, north-west London, while the couple's eldest daughter Nur Kua, 16, who jumped from a rear window, remains in a critical but stable condition, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The six victims are being buried today during a service being held between 1.30pm and 3.30pm at the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery in Ilford in Essex and some representatives from Brent Council are expected to attend.

Condolence prayers are being held at the Central Mosque of Brent, known as Willesden Green Mosque, in Station Approach, Willesden Green,  between 4.30pm and 8.30pm and have been arranged for the same time today and tomorrow.

The Mayor of Brent and Dudden Hill councillor for Labour, Aslam Choudry, said: "I spent the whole day on Saturday at the scene and spoke to neighbours, and I met the brother of the wife. He was obviously devastated.

"Here was a good, neighbourly family who were there for at least 2 1/2 years. They were a very quiet family who kept themselves to themselves.

"As I understand it, the wife was Jordanian and the husband was Palestinian and they'd been here for some time.

"The lady didn't work but the husband did work. He did some roof tiling work and some car mechanic work and possibly some buying and selling of cars."

Sarah Teather, the Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central, said: "This was a terrible tragedy that has shocked the whole local community.
"I can't begin to imagine what Mr Bassam Kua in particular is going through.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family and their friends as they struggle to come to terms with this.”

The inquest into the deaths of the six family members opened at Barnet Coroner's Court at 9am yesterday when the Coroner For North London Andrew Walker was told post-mortem examinations conducted on the victims at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow yesterday showed they all died of "inhalation of fire fumes".

Mr Walker adjourned the inquests until February 16 next year while the London Fire Brigade continues its investigation into how the fire started.

The brigade confirmed yesterday a chest freezer of an unknown brand was likely the source of the blaze and in doing so dismissed as the cause a second Beko frost-free fridge freezer - a make and model which has been subject to a brigade safefy warning over a "potentially serious danger of a failure".

Victims Hanin and Basma attended Crest Girls Academy in Crest Road, Neasden, while their sister Nur is also an ex-pupil. The girls' younger siblings Mustafa and Amal attended Braintcroft Primary School in Warren Road, Neasden.

The academy opened its doors yesterday to allow pupils and members of staff to pay their respects and lay flowers within the school grounds. A book of condolences has been opened.

Bev Bell, principal of Crest Girls Academy, told pupils in a special assembly this morning: "The girls were well known, loved and respected by you all.  We are so proud to have experienced their contribution to our lives within this academy, including as valued members of Pankhurst House.

"Both girls were bright, intelligent and well respected students. They took part fully in the life of the academy.

"Hanin had recently started the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Basma had recently embarked on a debating project.

"All the girls upheld everything about life which we all respected.  They were popular, caring and diligent."

Kim Beat, headteacher at Braintcroft Primary School said: "Braintcroft staff and community have been deeply shocked by the tragic deaths of two of our children and their family members. 

"Mustafa and Amal were delightful, happy children with a loving and supportive family.  Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to their family and friends and their older sister and father who are still in a critical condition.

"We will have special assemblies today and all staff will be on hand to comfort and support the children in the school  to cope with this tragedy." 

A stready stream of mourners, including schoolfriends and teachers from Crest Girls Academy, have been paying their respects at the Kua family's house and the number of floral tributes and cards has been growing.

One read: "You will always be remembered for the loving memories you gave us. Missing you always with love. Never forgotten."

Janet and Joe Lyons were next door neighbours of the family. Mrs Lyons said: "They were very pleasant and the children were very well-mannered, quiet and friendly. I was only playing hide and seek with the two-year-old on Thursday."

Padmini Nicholas, a near neighbour, said she was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

She said: "I can't believe it. I can't hear the noise of the children anymore. The children's voices are not there anymore. Its so sad. I have been thinking about those beautiful children and praying for them."

Saturday's blaze badly damaged the ground floor and first floor of the two-storey semi-detached house, which the parents had rented for approximately six months. The cause is still under investigation by London Fire Brigade.

The first fire engine was on the scene within four minutes and a second three minutes later. In all, 30 firefighters and six fire engines fought the blaze and managed to quell the flames by 2.50am.

Station manager Glen Gorman said: "There's no doubt this is an absolute tragedy. My thoughts, and those of my colleagues at the London Fire Brigade, are with the friends, family and loved ones of those affected at this extremely sad and difficult time.

"We are now working with the police to ensure a full and thorough investigation is carried out."

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: “Firefighters arrived within minutes of the call, they worked extremely hard and did all they could in difficult conditions. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those who died in the fire.”