Russell Island fire: Neighbours tell of dramatic escapes as ‘wall of fire’ spread to their properties

A neighbour of the house in which a man and five young boys died in a fire on Sunday has told how she injured herself in a desperate escape bid the flames spread to her home, while another detailed her sheer panic over what confronted her.

Neighbours of a young family killed in a horrific Russell Island house fire have spoken out about how they woke to a “wall of flames” before running from their burning house to escape the fire.

Lucia Teague and Sei Sinclaire were residents at one of the houses which caught fire from a blaze which broke out at the home of Wayne Godinet and Samantha Stephenson on Sunday morning.

Mr Godinet, 34, and his five children, Zack, 11, Harry, 10, four-year-old twins Kyza and Koah, and Nicky, 3, died in the fire.

Wayne Godinet and his five sons, Zack, 11, Harry, 10, four-year-old twins Kyza and Koah and Nicky, 3, all lost their lives in the fire.

The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her sister managed to get to safety.

Neighbour Lucia Teague lived next door, saying she came face-to-face with a wall of flames.

Police and Emergence services attend a fatal fire on Russell Island. Photo Steve Pohlner

“First thing I remember is the sound of my uncle banging on my door … and looking down the hall and seeing through the glass sliding door this fall of flames,” Ms Teague told The Today Show on Tuesday.

“Then we all just at first tried to put out the fire that was catching onto our balcony, and when we realised that was useless we grabbed everything we could, the animals, ourselves, anything in reach, and basically tried to just get out of the house.”

Another resident, Sei Sinclaire, said panic set in when he saw the flames inside,

“Just panic set in looking down the hall and seeing the fire eye-level with us already … completely engulfed in flames,” Mr Sinclaire said.

“Adrenaline kicks in … the heat, even from the other end of the house you could feel it on your face.”

Ms Teague was injured falling down stairs as she madly tried to escape her burning home.

“I was in denial the first day,” Ms Teague said.

“We honestly have no clue what we are going to do.

“I was just thinking the entire time I was in hospital I just wanted to go home, but realising I can’t.”

Their home was one of two neighbouring properties severely damaged from the fire.

The house is now unlivable and charred from the flames.

Mr Sinclaire said their entire street came together to help and make sure they were okay.

Forensics officers at the scene on Monday. Photo Steve Pohlner

“It was heartwarming in a really heartbreaking situation.”

Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham revealed police were planning to conduct formal interviews with Ms Stevenson and her sister while acknowledging investigators were keeping an “open mind” into the cause of the fire.

Members of the community have rallied to show their support following the devastating fire. Photo Steve Pohlner

There is no suggestion either has engaged in any wrongdoing, or suspected of any wrongdoing.

He said 25 detectives were investigating the blaze, with an investigation centre set up at the Cleveland Police Station.