Five-year-old child dies in Royal Hobart Hospital after tragic Rokeby house fire
A five-year-old girl has died in the Royal Hobart Hospital after she was left fighting for her life following a deadly house fire at Rokeby on Sunday.
Tasmania
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A second child has died after a devastating fire tore through a Rokeby home during her birthday party, claiming the life of an infant girl and leaving several other children hospitalised.
Jordan was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital on Sunday after the deadly blaze killed her baby sister, Harlyn, who was just 22-months-old.
The five-year-old, whose birthday was on Monday, spent the last two days fighting for her life but died in hospital overnight on Tuesday, Tasmania Police has confirmed.
The fire at the Benboyd Circle residence was reported to authorities about 9am Sunday. The home was destroyed and an adult was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with a lacerated arm. They remained in a stable condition on Tuesday.
Three other children, aged one, 10, and 14, have been discharged after being treated for smoke inhalation.
Police said family and extended family members were gathered at the home for Jordan’s birthday party when the blaze broke out.
A Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) investigation has found there were no suspicious circumstances and that the fire was a tragic accident which started in the lounge room of the home.
A report is being prepared for the coroner, who will determine Jordan and Harlyn’s cause of death.
TFS deputy chief operations Matt Lowe said the fire service’s “deepest condolences” were with all those who were affected by the tragedy.
“I’d like to thank the local community for their assistance, especially the neighbours who came to the aid of those affected,” he said.
“The scene and investigation have been traumatic, and it’s had a significant impact on first responders who have done an incredible job under extreme circumstances. They are commended for their actions and will be supported by our wellbeing support team.”
The Rokeby home impacted by the fire was owned by Homes Tasmania and managed by Mission Australia.
A Mission Australia spokeswoman said the organisation was “deeply saddened” by the incident and extended its “heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends, and community of everyone impacted”.
“Alongside assistance from emergency services, we will provide ongoing support to those directly affected by the fire, including accommodation, as well as support to the wider Rokeby community and our staff,” she said.
“We have been in contact with family members to offer support and will continue to work alongside them in the days and weeks ahead. We will be offering accommodation to the tenant of the affected property and provide help with furniture, food, as well as referrals for counselling and ongoing support services.”
A Homes Tasmania spokeswoman said the government body also expressed its “deepest sympathies” for those affected by the fire and recognised “the efforts of the broader community who are rallying to provide assistance at this terrible time”.
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Originally published as Five-year-old child dies in Royal Hobart Hospital after tragic Rokeby house fire
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