Woman on police guard after child dies in house fire
A Queensland woman is under police guard in hospital as detectives investigate whether domestic violence was a factor in the “suspicious circumstances” of a Toowoomba house fire that claimed the life of a child and has left two young girls fighting for life.
A Queensland woman is under police guard in hospital as detectives investigate the “suspicious circumstances” of a Toowoomba house fire that claimed the life of a child and has left two young girls fighting for life.
Emergency services were called to a house on Merritt St in Harristown, about two hours west of Brisbane, around 12.30am on Wednesday to find the property engulfed in flames.
While six people — a man and woman in their 30s and four children ranging from four to 18 — were able to escape with the help of neighbours, the body of a nine-year-old boy was found during a search of the home.
Police initially incorrectly reported a fifth child was missing.
Two girls, aged four and seven, were airlifted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane in a critical condition. A 36-year-old woman was also flown to the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital in a critical condition, where she remained under police guard with serious injuries on Wednesday afternoon.
Two men, aged 18 and 34, were taken to Toowoomba Base Hospital. The older man was treated for serious injuries and remained in a stable condition, while the teenager was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
An 11-year-old boy was uninjured.
Police have labelled the inferno as suspicious, with homicide detectives forensically examining the scene. No one else is being sought by police.
Windows of the house were smashed as neighbours reportedly tried desperately to save the family.
Mackenzie Scott
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