Twin girls die in Goonengerry of smoke inhalation west of Byron Bay

Police believe toxic smoke caused by a candle has led to the deaths of four-year-old twin girls as the community mourns their tragic loss.

A floral tribute is left inside the letterbox where twin four-year-old girls died in a house fire at Goonengerry, NSW.

A community is mourning the death of twin girls who did not survive smoke inhalation after an incident on a remote Byron hinterland property on Sunday.

Police investigating the tragedy believe a candle had been lit and placed on top of a piano, which then smouldered and gave off toxic smoke in a room where the girls were sleeping.

Emergency services were called to a Mafeking Road property at Goonengerry, about 30km west of Byron Bay, about 4am.

The tragedy happened at a property on Mafeking Road, about 30km west of Byron Bay.

Tweed/Byron Police District commander Superintendent Dave Roptell said the girls had been visiting their father and did not usually live at the property.

He said the fire had been smouldering for “a period of time” when the alarm was raised after somebody went in to check on the girls.

He said the girls had been sleeping “fairly close” to the piano.

“It was unbelievably devastating,” Superintendent Roptell said.

“The first responders, down at the scene, what they had to see and deal with and get in and try to attempt to save their lives is a credit to them.”

However, both girls were unable to be revived.

Superintendent Roptell said the family members of the girls were devastated.

He said police were still inquiring as to whether or not there were any smoke alarms in the house.

“There are still a number of inquiries to make,” Superintendent Roptell said.

Meanwhile, a floral tribute has been left in the letterbox of the property along with a handwritten message, “No words. Mourning with you”.

Investigations continued throughout the day with multiple emergency services vehicles moving back and forth to the property, which has homes about 1km back from Mafeking Road.

An emergency services vehicle enters the property where twin four-year-old girls died at Goonengerry NSW on Sunday morning.