Tasmanian Police reveals first details of horrific Rokeby house

A toddler has died and another child is fighting for life after a family home went up in flames, with the police revealing the first details of the nightmare.

An toddler has died and another young child is fighting for life in hospital following a horrific house fire in Hobart.

The family home at Benboyd Circle in Rokeby, Hobart, went up in flames about 9am, with multiple adults and children caught up in the blaze.

“The house was fully alight when police and Tasmania Fire Service crews arrived,” the police said in a statement on Sunday.

“An infant was found deceased inside the residence, and another young child and an adult were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious injuries.

“Three other children were also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“TFS fire investigators will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Latham, speaking at a press conference in the afternoon, said the scene was “distressing” and praised the response of emergency services personnel.

A report will be prepared for the coroner after police confirmed a child died in a horrific house fire in Tasmania. Picture: Supplied / Pulse Media

“When I arrived there, I had police and paramedics doing CPR on children, on an adult, and at the same time I’m looking at that, to right I’ve got firefighters doing everything they can to try and save whoever is in the house,” he said.

“I think that does highlight the good work they do.”

Detective Latham said neighbours and onlookers had also rendered assistance to the family.

“Very distressing for the people in the street,” he said.

The policeman said there was “nothing to suggest” foul play in the horror fire but the police would not “rule anything out”.

“With any investigation into the death of a child, or any person, we take it very seriously,” he said.

“As a result, we have got sufficient resources to make sure we understand exactly what has happened today.”

He said the toddler was found deceased in the home and the child in hospital was in a “critical condition”.

An adult also suffered a serious laceration to the arm and is receiving treatment in hospital.

The fire struck an address at Benboyd Circle, Rokeby, in Hobart on January 19, 2024. Picture: Google Maps

Paramedics treated a number of people for smoke inhalation, Detective Latham said.

The house was “completely destroyed”, he said, and fire investigators were now working to determine the cause of the fire.

The occupants of the house were related, he said.

The detective said investigators would speak to the family “at some stage”.

“That will help us piece together what has happened.”

Speaking to ABC News, one woman at the scene said she saw “flames everywhere” and “lots of smoke”.

“All the neighbours were coming to help … there was one man that had [taken] a fire extinguisher over and he smashed windows and got kids out,” the woman told the network, adding she also heard windows exploding and people screaming.

Originally published as Tasmanian Police reveals first details of horrific Rokeby house