Mum killed, son burned in house fire at Sarina, Queensland

New details inside the horror fire that took the life of a 71-year-old woman have revealed the desperate attempt to save her after a kitchen fire spun out of control.

Multiple inured in structure fire in Sarina near Mackay. Photo: Fergus Gregg

New details inside the horror fire that took the life of a 71-year-old woman have revealed the desperate attempt to evacuate after a kitchen fire spun out of control.

Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said the fire at Kathleen St, Sarina began when a 25-year-old male, identified as the son of the deceased, was cooking on the kitchen stove.

“He forgot to turn the stove off, left it unattended and the fire quickly engulfed the area and he was unable to extinguish the fire,” Detective Inspector Novosel said.

He attempted to evacuate his mother, 71, from the house when the flames and smoke became “too much for the both of them”.

“He was unable to assist his mother and he left the dwelling without her,” Detective Inspector Novosel said.

Detective Inspector Crime and Support Services Mackay-Whitsunday District Emma Novosel said the fire that killed one woman and injured her son started in the kitchen. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Once the fire was extinguished, officers with the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Fire Department located the woman in her bedroom and commenced CPR.

“Sadly she did not survive,” Detective Inspector Novosel said.

A crime scene was established at 38 Kathleen St and investigations are continuing with fire investigators set to attend the scene.

“A post-mortem examination will take place later this week to determine the cause of death of the woman,” Detective Inspector Novosel said.

Detective Inspector Novosel said the 25-year-old was distraught at the loss of his mum, as was the rest of his extended family.

“He’s tried to help her evacuate from the building but was not able to,” she said.

Detective Inspector Novosel encouraged the public to be vigilant when using appliances in their home, “particularly when they’re cooking on the stove and using oil”.

A Mackay Hospital and Health Service spokesperson said a 25-year-old with a minor burn to the hand presented to Mackay Hospital yesterday and was no longer a patient of theirs.

Two firefighters who helped battle the blaze were taken to hospital with minor injuries and were discharged last night.

Timothy Parker, who lives next door, said he was half asleep when he heard a loud pop of glass.

“Our neighbours caught fire in the kitchen room, I believe from what was an oil spill and that basically ignited the entire floor and then engulfed the walls and the rest of the house,” Mr Parker said.

Multiple inured in structure fire in Sarina near Mackay. Photo: Fergus Gregg

He quickly moved to turn a hose on the fire, along with another bystander until emergency services could arrive.

“Thankfully the first floor is a concrete floor so there was nothing to ignite down there but the entire upper floor is drywall, timber and asbestos which still burns but once it got going there was no real stopping it from that point.”

Despite firefighters, police, and ambulance crews arriving “damn quickly” the woman had passed away before the fire could be brought under control, Mr Parker said.

Her son suffered burns to his hands in their efforts to fight the fire and save her, Mr Parker said.

“We did as much as we could.”

Queensland Fire Department said crews had left the scene by 8.30pm.