Mum’s devastation revealed as dad, kids killed in horror Qld blaze

There have been touching tributes to a man and five children killed in a horror house fire as family and friends support their devastated mum.

The family of a man and five children killed in a horror Queensland house fire have broken their silence as police try to piece together what happened.

Wayne Godinet and his five children, aged three to 11, were found dead after a home on Russell Island, southeast of Brisbane, went up in flames early on Sunday.

The children’s mother Samantha Stephenson, 28, and a 21-year-old female relative were able to escape the property.

A family friend, who was one of the first on the scene, has described Ms Stephenson’s devastation in the moments after she escaped.

“Sam came running out of the house. She was just screaming ‘my children, my children,’ I can never forgot that,” Peter MacLoughlin told the Courier Mail.

Wayne Godinet, centre, and his five sons all died in a horror house fire. Picture: Facebook

Emergency services were called to the blaze on Todman St that had spread to two surrounding homes and was threatening a third.

Relative Emma-Lee Headrick took to social media on Monday to mourn the loss of Mr Godinet and her “beautiful” nephews.

“I stayed awake, mourning the loss of 6 beautiful souls. Waynie boy and my nephews,” Ms Headrick said.

“We have suffered a great loss. I find comfort in knowing you rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord.

“With Grumpy and Nicky. To my whanau in Queensland, I feel your pain and aroha. I’ll be there soon.”

Wayne Godinet died in the blaze.

Samantha Stephenson, believed to be the children’s mother, escaped.

The house was destroyed from the blaze. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

The touching tribute was adjoined by an image showing Mr Godinet and the five children together.

Dawn Williamson wrote on Facebook on Sunday that the family were in shock and thanked first responders.

“We would like to thank everyone including the ambulance, police, firefighters, SES and all others that were in attendance at the fire,” she said.

“A special thanks to Kylie Purtell and Peter Mac, but also to those that offered food, drinks, hugs and help.

“My family are in shock and devastated, and we kindly ask that you respect our privacy until we regroup as a family.

“We will update as we sort through this tragedy. We appreciate the kindness shown by all.”

Investigations are underway. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Family and friends have been leaving flowers and teddy bears. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

A car was also destroyed in the blaze. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Queensland Police Regional Crime Co-ordinator Superintendent Andrew Massingham said police had not determined if the fire was suspicious.

He told reporters on Monday that police had established a 25-person crime centre to manage investigations into the horrific fire.

“The establishment of the investigation centre is because there are some elements of this incident that do require closer scrutiny,” he said.

“No determination has been made at this stage as to whether this fire is suspicious or not.

“It‘s important that I tell you that we are keeping an open mind with respect to this matter.

“And, as I say, no determination has been made, but there are some aspects of it that require further investigation.”

Multile investigators were on the scene. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Emergency services are combing through the ruins of Russell Island homes after they were destroyed by fire on Sunday. Picture: Supplied / ABC

Wayne Godinet and his five sons (pictured) tragically died in the blaze. Picture: Facebook

Superintendent Massingham said officers would concentrate on Monday morning in recovering the bodies from the home.

The next phase of their investigation would be to identify the scene of the fire and whether there were any suspicious elements.

While early in their investigation, Superintendent Massingham confirmed the man killed in the fire was “known to police”.

“I can confirm that police have been to the residence in the past,” he said.

“The nature and frequency of our attendance there is subject to internal review and will be part of the investigation.

“As to whether the male was supposed to be at the address or not is still subject to investigation.”

Superintendent Massingham also revealed police were still seeking to speak to a number of people who could provide accounts of the blaze.

He said the two women survivors had been released from hospital into the company of their friends and were co-operative with police.

The disaster identification team has also been brought it to assist in identification, with a community recovery centre set up for locals.

Nine News previously reported on Monday that while the fire was initially treated as not being suspicious, that had since changed.

A post-mortem and scientific examination is still to take place to formally identify the deceased.

The Courier Mail reported Ms Stephenson is understood to have told police her partner, Mr Godinet, raced upstairs to rescue the five boys when the fire broke out before becoming trapped when the second storey collapsed.

Neighbours and local residents told the Brisbane paper of Mr Godinet’s brave act, stating he had slept downstairs at the property while Ms Stephenson and the five children aged three to 11 slept on the floor above.

Initially, Queensland Police Superintendent Mat Kelly said five boys – aged 11, 10, twin four-year-olds and a three-year-old – and their 34-year-old father were not accounted for.

The fire started on one property on Todman St and spread to two others. Picture: Supplied / Channel 9

The 28-year-old mother, who was at the house at the time and escaped, was being treated by paramedics.

“As you can imagine, she is in a distressed state at this point in time,” Superintendent Kelly said.

“We are providing support for the community.”

Superintendent Kelly said it was a tragedy for the local community.

“These are young boys who could have become men into the future,” he said.

“A man has lost his life as well – truly devastating for the community at Russell Island and certainly for the emergency services as well.

Superintendent Kelly said the scenes were “very confronting” when first responders arrived on the island.

Aerial footage from the scene captures smoke billowing from the ruined homes as firefighters man hoses to dampen the structures.

“Upon arrival, the house was fully involved and multiple surrounding properties were damaged,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

“A crime scene was immediately declared and an investigation launched.”

Seven Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) crews were called to the blaze.

Queensland Police Superintendent Mat Kelly said the mother of the five boys was extremely distressed. Picture: Supplied / ABC

Firefighters were dampening down the structure on Sunday and conducting searches for the missing persons, a QFES spokesman said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokeswoman said nine people were assessed on scene.

Two were taken to hospital, one to Redland and the other to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said firefighters received multiple calls for help at 6.18am, reporting two houses were on fire.

“Subsequent emergency calls indicated that there were several people unaccounted for at one of those houses,” he said.

“Two appliances from the Russell Island Fire Brigade arrived on the scene at 6.35am.

“They found smoke and flames clearly visible from two houses.

“Within two minutes of that crew being on scene, they reported that a third house was also fully alight.”

Mr Leach said more crews responded with additional firefighting equipment brought from the mainland.

Five children and a man are unaccounted for, Queensland Police say. Picture: Supplied / Channel 9

He said the home had been “totally destroyed” and firefighters had begun their search of the ruins about 8.15am.

“There’s been quite a significant structural collapse,” he said.

“It could take quite some time, even days, to determine the point of origin of the fire and the cause.

“When you get a structural collapse like that, fire investigators have to piece together what’s left, where it came from in the building, where it was standing, what the floor plan looked like and where people were located when the fire occurred.”

As the smoke cleared, distressed locals mourned the loss of the local family on the tight-knit island community.

Local taxi driver Angela Dowson told the Courier Mail Mr Godinet was “hero” after running in the help save the five boys.

“He would have done everything in his power to get those kids out, so obviously it was impossible. I would call him superdad’,” Ms Dowson said.

“I have never met a more doting father who just wanted to spend time with his kids.

“He would be absolutely buggered after work and he just wanted to play with them.”

Ms Dowson said the community’s road to recovery from the tragedy would be done “slowly and painfully”.

Russell Island local Gerard Thompson said the work of the rural firefighters was to be applauded.

“Apparently they responded within a few minutes of getting the first call and had it all under control by the time mainland responders were on scene,” Mr Thompson said. “That’s just amazing to hear.”

Floral tributes were seen at the scene of the blaze, while a GoFundMe account was set up for donations to Ms Stephenson.

Redland City Council said it was working closely with emergency services and support agencies in the wake of the tragedy.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan described the fire as a great tragedy.

Two people were taken to hospital. Picture: Supplied / Channel 9

“Of course a very sad day for Queenslanders,” he said.

“Brave members of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, the Queensland Ambulance Service (and) Queensland Police Service were obviously on site very quickly, but now there’s further work to be done around the site – finding victims, supporting the community.

“Our hearts break for those involved in the tragedy.

“It seems a tragic loss of life from early reports.”

David Crisafulli, Queensland’s opposition leader, said the scenes were “deeply troubling” before addressing reporters on Sunday morning.

“These are the kinds of communities where everyone knows everyone and it’s a place where people matter,” he said.

“In tight-knit communities these incidents rock really hard.

“Rest assured, you’ve got a very, very brave community there that will be deeply hurting this morning.”