‘Good people’: Real estate agent, wife killed in house fire tragedy

A local real estate agent and his wife have been identified as the couple who perished in an early morning house fire, west of Brisbane.

An Ipswich real estate agent and his wife have died in a house fire west of Brisbane in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Joseph Stephan, 73, and Christine Stephan, 68, were found by emergency services after police received initial calls of a disturbance at the Collingwood Park home.

On arrival, police forced their way into the home where they found the bodies of the couple at the door of the front bedroom.

Police say they were the only occupants in the house at the time.

Joseph and Christine Stephan have been identified as the couple who died in a house fire, west of Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

Mr Stephen worked as a real estate agent in the area and the couple were remembered by neighbours as “good people”.

It’s understood the couple have two adult children who arrived at the scene in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A neighbour said the couple usually park their cars on the driveway but that night they had parked them in the garage.

While there were no domestic violence orders in place, police are still investigating whether this was a factor and the couple’s relationship will be investigated.

Emergency services earlier told of being met with a “very confronting” situation when they arrived at the scene.

Police at the scene of the fatal house fire at Hannant Street, Collingwood Park. Picture: Richard Walker

Neighbours reported smoke billowing from the garage however not “too many” flames.

A neighbour said he was woken during the night by the lights and sirens and could hear a young woman crying at the house.

Detective Acting Inspector Heath McQueen said it was a “shocking discovery” for emergency services but extensive investigations are ongoing to understand what happened.

“We’re currently working with the immediate family to provide support,” he said.

“It’s very confronting.”

An autopsy will take place to officially identify the couple and determine the cause of death.

Investigators on scene of the fatal house fire in Collingwood Park. Picture: Richard Walker