Mum under police guard after ‘suspicious’ Harristown fire leaves boy dead, girls critical

A Queensland mother is under police guard in hospital as she fights for life after a suspicious inferno claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy and left two young girls critical. VIDEO | PICTURES

A child has died after a horror fire engulfed a Toowoomba region home overnight. Photo: Jarrard Potter

A mother is under police guard in hospital and detectives are treating the death of a nine-year-old boy as suspicious after a horror fire engulfed a Toowoomba home.

Heroic neighbours helped four children and two adults – a man, 34, and a woman, 36 – out of the home after the fire in Harristown about 12.30am.

The nine-year-old boy died in the fire and the woman and two girls, aged 4 and 7, were in a critical condition.

The woman was under police guard in hospital on Wednesday evening.

Five fire crews were sent to the blaze, which was fully extinguished by 1.50am.

Senior police said the fire was being treated as suspicious, with the homicide squad sent in to work with local detectives.

The worst of the fire was towards the front of the home. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Neighbours broke windows in an attempt to free the children from the home as they desperately tried to save the family.

Detective Inspector Renee Garske said a crime scene had been declared and the Homicide Squad was assisting the local investigators.

Police confirmed they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the fire.

An 18-year-old man also escaped the home and was taken to Toowoomba Base Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while an 11-year-old boy was uninjured.

Neighbour Will Cuffe ran to the home after he saw the fire.

“We were awake and heard some loud shouting, so we went to see what was happening and saw a lot of people out on the street,” he said.

“We heard the smoke alarms, then saw the smoke and flames.”

Mr Cuffe said he phoned triple-0 immediately but that there was little that could be done.

Several neighbours ran to the rear of the house to help the family, while Mr Cuffe went to the front door but the smoke was too thick.

Witnesses said the main part of the fire was at the front of the house.

“After we saw the smoke, it took about three minutes and the house just went up in flames,” Mr Cuffe said.

“We saw the mother, the father and some of the young kids. The mother was holding the kids and taking them to the ambulance.

“Two of the young kids were walking, but they were really badly burnt.”

Insp Garske said the Homicide Squad was assisting local investigators after the fire, but would not go into detail on what police knew about the incident.

Two young girls are critical following the fire. Picture: Kevin Farmer

On Wednesday afternoon police confirmed they were treating the fire as suspicious.

Officers were not looking for anyone else in relation to the fire.

“We are appealing for anyone with relevant information to please come forward, this is a tragic event and we are deeply saddened by this incident,” Insp Garske said.

“Our hearts go out to the Toowoomba community at this time, and to the family and friends of persons involved.”

One neighbour said the family moved into the street recently.

“They were just a regular family,” he said.

“We were half asleep when it was kicking and we came out to have a look, but there was nothing we could do.”

Another neighbour said it was heartbreaking to hear about the fire.

Police Scenes of Crime officers and Queensland Fire Department investigators were also sent to the scene.

A Department of Education spokesman said the event would impact the community.

“Support is being provided to students and staff in the area, with guidance counsellors available for as long as needed,” he said.

“Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with all those affected.”

A woman is under police guard in hospital as she fights for life. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Fatal house fire in Harristown. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Originally published as Mum under police guard after ‘suspicious’ Harristown fire leaves boy dead, girls critical