Woman’s condition upgraded to critical after New Year’s Day house fire tragedy in Biboohra

A mother of five is now in a critical condition in Cairns Hospital after receiving injuries during a fire that killed two pets, displaced her family and destroyed her home on the Tablelands.

A mother of five who was injured during a house fire in the Tablelands is now in a critical condition in Cairns Hospital after initially being downgraded to serious but stable condition on Sunday.

The woman, believed to be in her 20s, and her children were left without a home after a fire destroyed their Baboohra house on Monday, January 1.

Emergency services responded to the New Year’s Day tragedy on Pine Close shortly before 7am.

All occupants were able to exit the building but the mother suffered a cardiac arrest and required CPR at the scene from paramedics, who then transported her to Mareeba Hospital in a critical condition.

The woman was then transferred to Cairns Hospital and her condition was briefly downgraded before being upgraded again on Monday morning.

Three QFES vehicles were called to the scene of a house fire at Biboohra on New Year’s Day.

Her five young children, aged between one and nine, suffered smoke inhalation injuries. Paramedics also transported them to Mareeba Hospital, but in stable conditions.

They are now in the care of their grandmother, Sandy Brown, who has appealed to the public for assistance with provisions.

“The kids are okay, but they’re not sure at all what’s going on,” she said, her voice trembling.

“We need clothes for our grandkids. We don’t know how long our daughter’s going to be in an induced coma for.”

Sandy also welcomed donations of toys but said the family was currently okay for food.

She said offers of donations could be made to her through Facebook messenger.

Firefighter Jason Ryan was with the first Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crew to arrive at the scene and said the blaze, which claimed the lives of two pets, was “well-involved” when they arrived.

Emergency Service crews responded to the house fire at 6.50am and remained at the scene until the afternoon conducting investigations into the cause of the blaze.

“The original call advised that there were still people inside the building but on arrival all were accounted for outside of the building,” Mr Ryan said.

“There was thick smoke and flames visible from all windows and doors.

“The children were relatively unhurt and were moved down to a neighbouring property. There were concerns that one had been more affected by smoke inhalation but all were transported to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“The fire took around 15 minutes to get under control and from then it was about cleaning up the area and putting out any hot spots before investigations continued.”

Emergency Service crews responded to the house fire at 6.50am and remained at the scene until the afternoon conducting investigations into the cause of the blaze.

Four fire fighting assets were active during the incident, including a water tanker from Malanda.

Neighbour Constantina Catalina-Brits said she was unaware of the incident until she saw the emergency vehicles.

“It must have happened early, we didn’t see anything until we left the home this morning and saw the emergency vehicles,” she said.

“I think they moved recently from the other side of the town, I would usually see the kids playing with a ball on the road and at the bus stop right out the front.

“I hope the mother is okay, but I’m glad to hear the kids all got out safe.”

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said the fire was able to be contained to the building with three vehicles at the scene and Ergon was able to successfully isolate power from the structure.

Queensland Police were still investigating the incident Monday afternoon and were yet to identify a cause of the blaze.

Originally published as Woman’s condition upgraded to critical after New Year’s Day house fire tragedy in Biboohra