Deputy Premier Cameron Dick reveals personal connection to people killed in house fire at Woodridge, south of Brisbane
A neighbour of an elderly woman killed in a house fire with her son has described his family’s heartbreak, saying she was like a grandmother to his children, who have been unable to sleep since the fatal inferno.
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A woman killed in a house at Woodridge on Sunday night has been identified as Carmel Pierce.
Ms Pierce’s son Marcus,60, also died in the blaze on Cypress Ave.
Next door neighbour Jayide Ali, who had lived next door to Ms Pierce for more than two decades, told The Courier-Mail his teenage sons had rushed into the front yard of Ms Pierce’s burning property as she pleaded for help.
All of his children affectionately referred to Ms Pierce, who is believed to have used a wheelchair, as grandmother, and had been unable to sleep since the fire.
“My son was in the shower when he saw the fire,” he said.
“(My family) rushed out of the house and screamed ‘help, help, Carmel’s house is on fire’.”
Mr Ali said two of his sons then jumped into the front yard of Ms Pierce’s property and used garden hoses in a desperate attempt to extinguish the blaze.
“They were helpless,” he said.
“The boys have been unable to sleep, they told me they can still hear Carmel screaming ‘help, help … please get me out of here … please help’.”
Mr Ali said his children often took Ms Pierce to hospital appointments or coffee dates.
“(Carmel) helped raise (my children) … she never missed a birthday,” he said.
Councillor Teresa Lane was among a number of people to pay tribute to Ms Pierce.
“She dedicated much of her working life to Queenslanders through her work with the Department of Corrections and victims of crime”.
“She was vibrant, sassy and witty, a woman who loved her family and stood up for vulnerable people,” Ms Lane said.
“Carmel will be mourned by family, friends, former colleagues and many members of the community including elected members from all three levels of government.
“Her son Marcus who also passed away in the fire was her rock, best friend and carer these last few years having moved up from Sydney to support her to stay independent.
“Her family asks for privacy as they notify extended family members.”
Ms Pierce is survived by two other children.
At a Logan City Council meeting on Wednesday, Cr Lane said Ms Pierce played a significant role in the “victims of crime: process.
“She was significant. She was part of many major decisions, participated on the parole board, was active in creating new policy as issues emerged on violent behaviours, and was a great partner and mum,” she said.
“This wasn’t an easy loss for the community, her neighbours, or her family.”
Deputy Premier and local Member for Woodridge Cameron Dick also paid tribute to Ms Pierce as he placed flowers outside the home, saying he knew the woman “quite well”.
“This is a really devastating event, I think it has shocked everyone in the Woodridge – it has shocked everyone in Logan,” Mr Dick said.
“You had a son caring for his mother and the fact that they would both lose their lives in these terrible circumstances … it’s just awful … it’s heartbreaking.
“I didn’t know the son very well but I knew his mum and I knew how kind she was … she had a great sense of humour, very energetic person but her health declined in recent years.”
Ms Pierce had lived with tragedy much of her life, with one of her daughters committing suicide and another being murdered.
Her daughter Cary-Jane was brutally murdered and found in bushland near the Gateway Bridge in 1988, in an area known as “Rabbits Hill”.
The 26-year-old had been struck on the back of the head with a rock and a strap from the canvas knapsack she was carrying was bound tightly around her neck.
Ms Pierce raised Cary-Jane’s daughter after the brutal murder.
On Monday a police spokeswoman said the murder of Cary-Jane remained an open unsolved homicide investigation.
“A government reward of $250,000 remains on offer for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Cary-Jane Louise Pierce,” the spokeswoman said.
“Police would encourage any person with information relating to unsolved homicide cases in Queensland to contact Crime Stoppers.”
She went on to be a prominent member of the Victims of Crime Association and later a board member of the Queensland Community Corrections Board.
The murder remains unsolved.
Emergency services were called to her Woodridge home about 6pm on Sunday to find the home fully ablaze.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency services spokesman said the fire was under control about 30 minutes later.
Queensland Police Acting Inspector Mark Procter on Sunday night said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Federal Treasurer and local Member for Rankin Jim Chalmers also paid tribute to Ms Pierce.
“Thinking of my good friend Carmel and her son Marcus who died in tragic circumstances overnight,” he wrote online.
“As a volunteer in our local area, I came to know Carmel pretty well.
“She was a fantastic person with a big heart.
“I offer my deepest condolences to Carmel and Marcus’ family, friends and supportive neighbours who are no doubt going through a tough time right now. They will be sorely missed.”
It comes less than a week after a man died in a house fire at Albion.
Danny Carr, 67, perished inside an Amelia St unit after fire broke out on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Carr was found dead in the living room, while Jasmin Boyd, 33, escaped the blaze and collapsed on the street.
Ms Boyd was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital burns unit with significant burns to her face, hands and feet.
She remained in a critical but stable condition in hospital
Police have confirmed they are treating the Albion blaze as suspicious, but are working to determine a number of factors, including the source and origin of the fire and whether the occupants of the unit were in a romantic relationship.
Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said: “At this stage it’s still under investigation, but we don’t believe it’s suspicious – but of course we will have to let that investigation run its course.”
Originally published as Deputy Premier Cameron Dick reveals personal connection to people killed in house fire at Woodridge, south of Brisbane
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