Man charged with murder over Tamworth house fire that killed two people, including a child

Police have charged a 60-year-old man with murder over a serious house fire in Tamworth that killed two people, including a child, and injured two others.

Police have charged a 60-year-old man over a house fire in Tamworth on Thursday morning that killed two people, including a child.

Emergency services were called to the home on Bylong Road, Hillvue at 5.30am in response to the blaze.

There, they found the bodies of an elderly woman and a child inside.

A 27-year-old woman and another child, seven, who managed to escape the fire were rushed to Tamworth Base Hospital.

The woman remains in a critical condition, having suffered severe burns to much of her body. The boy was treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns and is stable.

A child is among two people dead in a house fire in Tamworth. Emergency services were called to the property on Bylong Road in Hillvue at 5:30am. Picture: ABC

Firefighters extinguished the “serious” fire. Picture: Sky News

A crime scene was established and police quickly confirmed they were treating the fire as suspicious.

A neighbour told the ABC the family were “lovely”.

“I woke up this morning to use the bathroom to use and realised their house was on fire,” Bernadette Wood said.

“It’s so sad … it’s a tragedy when your house is on fire, there’s nothing you can but stand there and watch,” she said.

Two people died in the ferocious blaze and another two were injured. Picture: Sky News

A 60-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder. Picture: Sky News

Tonight, detectives charged the man with two counts of murder. He has been refused bail and court appearance details are being finalised.

Investigations by detectives attached to Strike Force Glendare are continuing.

A brief will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.