Town rallies after heartbreaking deaths in house fire
Laine Clark |
A heartbroken community is rallying around two families after a woman and two children died in a horrific house fire.
The bodies were discovered in the charred remains of a two storey Gladstone home in central Queensland that partially collapsed after being engulfed in flames early on Wednesday.
Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett confirmed the victims were a woman and two children after meeting with some of the devastated relatives.
“There’s two families involved here, and my heart breaks for them all,” he told AAP.
“It’s just a terrible time, particularly when children are involved.
“As you can understand the families are very distraught right now.”
Emergency services were called to the Toolooa home at 5.56am.
“The house was fully engulfed,” police said in a statement.
Multiple occupants of the house were unaccounted for as fire crews battled the blaze.
The fire was extinguished 90 minutes later and a crime scene declared.
Search efforts were initially hampered after the top storey collapsed, before emergency services made the grisly discoveries.
The Gladstone community had “wrapped their arms” around the affected families as they try to comprehend the tragedy, Cr Burnett said.
“We are a tight knit community. We will be there for whatever they need,” he said.
“We extend our sincere condolences to families and friends but also to the first responders, it’s a tough time for them as well.”
The sentiment was echoed by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
“These kinds of incidents, they’re always particularly difficult when they’re in smaller communities,” he told reporters.
“I’m deeply saddened to hear about the tragedy and my heart really goes out to the family, the neighbours, the first responders.
“It’s a really, really difficult time and any support that’s needed, I can assure you it’ll be given.”
Neighbours called emergency services about the blaze after they were reportedly woken up by explosions and what sounded like a thunderstorm.
It may take days to determine the full circumstances, with police on Wednesday saying the cause was being treated as “unknown”.
“It is a tragic event,” Detective Acting Superintendent Luke Peachey told reporters.
“Obviously the fire scene is very horrific … and will take some time to go through.
“We’ll be working with the families, once we establish who those people are, to try and work out what happened.”
Police launched an appeal for information late on Wednesday.
Anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage, particularly in the vicinity of Whiting, Trevally, Marlin and Emperor streets between 5.30am and 6.05am, should also come forward.
AAP
