Young victim of Clayfield fire tragedy identified as father makes heartbreaking return to the scene

The six-year-old boy who died in an explosive house fire at Clayfield in Brisbane’s north has been identified, as his father has made an emotional return to the scene of the tragedy.

The boy who died in a house fire tragedy at Clayfield in Brisbane’s north has been identified as six-year-old Max Chirila, as his father has made an emotional return to the scene of the tragedy.

The fire broke out in the Barlow St home just before 4am with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services arriving shortly after to the house fully engulfed in flames.

Fire crews were unable to get into the burning house due to the intensity of the flames and after the roof partially collapsed.

The boy who died in a house fire tragedy in Brisbane's north has been identified as Max Chirila.

Neighbours reported hearing explosions before “deafening screams” as the accidental fire engulfed the home.

Fire rips through the Barlow St home. Picture: 7 News

Max’s parents and his four-year-old brother had managed to escape from the burning house, but tragically the body of the child was found in their bedroom.

Max was due to turn seven in just two weeks.

One neighbour told The Courier-Mail that the boy’s father had been in a wheelchair following a scooter accident two weeks ago.

The father of the six-year-old boy killed in a house fire in Clayfield returns to the scene of the tragedy.

The man returned to the scene on crutches on Monday afternoon, where he viewed bouquets of flowers placed by the public and was consoled by friends and family.

Family members who gathered in the street were seen to be physically distraught, with one woman collapsing to the ground and screaming “Maxie, Maxie my boy”.

It is understood the family may have been planning to begin renovations on the property.

A six-year-old boy died in the Clayfield house fire.

“They’re a lovely local family,” a neighbour said.

“The flames were metres and metres in the air and then we heard screaming. It was a bit confronting. Really awful.”

Another neighbour told The Courier-Mail they were devastated by the events unfolding in their quiet suburban street.

Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze.

“They were very nice people, quiet and beautiful neighbours”

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family and raised more than $9000 in just a matter of hours.

A gentleman who lives one street over said he woke up to “sirens, screams and smoke”

“I looked out and all I could see was smoke. It was thick”.

Another neighbour, Jenn Davidson, heard the explosion then witnessed the family trying to escape.

“The screams were absolutely dreadful and to see that family trying to get out was so upsetting,” she said.

“I only knew them in passing but they seemed like beautiful people”

The home was destroyed in the blaze.

A neighbour from across the road said it was the loudest explosion he had heard

“We are friends with the people two streets away and the roar woke them and myself and by the time I’d come downstairs they had already made it onto our street,” he said.

“It made the house shake”

Allan lives across the street from the family and described waking up after hearing a “roar”.

“It was like a roar coming from the back of the house,” he said.

“It was 20 feet above the roof, like blasting up in the air.

“The street was full of people, even people from the next street over, so that’s how much noise it was making.”

Allan said at the time he did not realise a boy had been inside, and only found out about his death after watching the news.

Flowers have been left at the neighbouring property after a six year old boy died in a house fire.

A Queensland Ambulance Services spokeswoman said they treated three people at the scene including a man with burns to his hands, and a woman and child with minor injuries.

They did not need to be taken to hospital.

Early indications are that the fire started at the rear of the property with The Courier-Mail understanding investigators are looking at a possible electrical fault related to charging batteries.

Fire crews were able to enter the gutted home to start their investigations about 9.30am.

“The floor and ceiling is completely caved in and the structure of the house has been significantly damaged,” a QFES spokesman told The Courier-Mail.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Superintendent Mark Halverson said the tragedy was a timely reminder for homeowners to install interconnected smoke alarms

The aftermath of the fatal house fire. Picture: 10 News

“Install those interconnected smoke alarms in hallways and bedrooms that will give you an early warning,” he said.

“There is such extensive damage throughout the property it is impossible to tell if there was working smoke alarms”.

“Fire crews did the very best that they could to save everyone and three persons did make it out safely”

Mr Halverson said it took 35 minutes to get the fire under control. He said crews had initially entered the property but were forced out when the walls and roof started to collapse.

Investigations are ongoing.

Queensland Police are also investigating the blaze and said a report would be prepared for the Coroner.