Police treat Ayr house fire death as suspicious
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Police have confirmed they’re treating the death of a woman following a house fire in north Queensland as suspicious.
The fire was reported early on Tuesday morning at an address on Home Hill Road at Ayr.
A 47-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man were found at the house with severe burns. The woman died in hospital several hours later.
The man, believed to be her partner, has been transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.
Investigators have not yet been able to speak to him as he is receiving medical treatment.
Detectives from the Ayr and Townsville Criminal Investigation Branches and the Homicide Unit are investigating the fire.
Police and fire investigators are continuing work at the property and expect to complete the scene examination today.
A call for police to attend the home for a welfare check four hours before the fire will be part of the ongoing investigation.
Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson confirmed police were called to the home at 2.15am on a “mental health matter”, and that it was not the first time police had been called there.
“We were contacted by residents of the house in relation to some comments that were made at the residence, which was the reason for the initial attendance.
“Police attended and spoke to both residents who were there at the time, and we also had the Queensland Ambulance Service there assisting.”
Detectives are appealing to anyone who was in the area between 4 and 6 on Tuesday morning who may have information or video to contact them.
