Bombshell claim on fire that killed five kids

The grandmother of five children who died alongside their dad in a house fire has made shocking new claims about the tragedy.

The grandmother of five children who died alongside their dad in a house fire claims her daughter had “begged” the landlord to fix the smoke alarms at the property before the tragedy took place.

Wayne Godinet, 34, died along with his four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, in a blaze at their home on Russell Island, off Brisbane’s southeast coast, on August 6 last year.

The children’s mum, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her sister were able to escape the fire.

Mr Godinet and his sons became trapped upstairs of the two storey home after he raced back into the house to save them.

On Wednesday this week, the owner of the property Donna Rose Beadel was charged by police. Now the family has spoken out in anger.

Wayne Godinet lost his life on Russell Island along with his 5 sons; Zac and Harry, twins Kysa and Koah and youngest Nicky. Picture Facebook

Emergency services were called Russell Island after six bodies were found. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The grandmother of the five boys, Rebecca Stephenson, told the Courier Mail her daughter had asked her landlord to update the smoke alarms just a week before the fire.

“The week before it happened, Sam texted the landlady and asked for the smoke alarms to be updated,” Ms Stephenson said.

She said she knew of three times her daughter had asked for the smoke alarms to be fixed.

“It was the first thing you noticed when you walked into the house, a smoke alarm hanging from the ceiling and then a marking of one in the kitchen that had been painted over,” she added.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through the community.

Charges laid

The fire sent shockwaves through the tight-knit island community, after additional resources were brought from the mainland to assist in the devastating aftermath.

Seven months on, Queensland Police have issued 61-year-old Tweed Heads woman Beadel, who owned the Todman St property where the six family members died, with a notice to appear for failing to install smoke alarms.

Police will allege her property did not have compliant smoke alarms when the fire broke out.

It will be further alleged she wasn’t present when the fire occurred.

She has been served a notice to appear on one count of owners must install smoke alarms.

She is expected to appear at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on March 26.

Friends and family left flowers and teddy bears at the house following the fire. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Police are still investigating the fire as they prepare a report for the coroner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Landlords are responsible for the installation and maintenance of working smoke alarms in Queensland rental properties.

“Within 30 days before the start of a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the lessor/landlord must test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling,” according to QFES.

“During a tenancy in a domestic dwelling, the tenant must test and clean each smoke alarm in the dwelling, at least once every 12 months.”

Detectives are continuing their investigation following the fire and a final report will be given to the Coroner in the near future.

— with NCA NewsWire

A car badly damaged by fire was seen at the premises. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass