Newtown mum Judith Johns dies in house fire caused by stove left on

A Newtown mum who had a habit of cooking late at night died in a horror house fire after she accidentally left her stovetop on.

A Newtown mother died after she accidentally left her stovetop on late at night, sparking a horror house fire, a coronial report has revealed.

Judith Johns died after flames tore through her Upper Skene St home in the early hours of July 3, 2023.

The 62-year-old was home alone at the time and neighbours tried to break into the house to save the mother of one.

A coronial report stated there were no smoke detectors inside her house.

Damage from the fatal house fire in Upper Skene St in Newtown last year. Picture: Brad Fleet

In the report, forensic arson chemist John Kelleher concluded the fire started in the kitchen and he found the stovetop had been left on.

A badly burnt cooking pot was also found on the stove.

Ms Johns’ sister confirmed to investigators that she had a habit of cooking late at night.

At about 2am, Ms Johns’ neighbour heard a crackling sound and opened his front to find the home was on fire.

The neighbour told his daughter to call triple-0 and he raced across the road to help.

Police at the scene of the blaze in July last year. Picture: Brad Fleet

Another neighbour also went to Ms Johns’ house but found the back of the property and a shed engulfed by flames and was faced with extreme heat from the blaze.

He started to bang on windows and the front door, trying to raise the alarm for Ms Johns to evacuate.

Neighbours then tried to kick down the front door before emergency services arrived.

Firefighters entered the home to find Ms Johns but “they had to contend with significant clutter in addition to the effects of the raging fire”.

Crews found her body on the kitchen floor.

Coroner Simon McGregor said Ms Johns’ death was “the consequence of the accidental ignition of the fire while (she) was cooking”.

“The personal bravery of the neighbours and the courageous professionalism of the first

responders are worthy of recognition and the gratitude of the broader Victorian community,” he said.

Firefighters worked for about two hours to put the fire, which came close to affecting neighbouring properties, out.

Residents told reporters at the time there was “a wall of flames” which were as high as 10m.

Photos from the scene showed the home was severely damaged with piles of clutter and clothing left burnt and covered in ash.

Neighbours remembered Ms Johns as a friendly but introverted woman who kept to herself.

Originally published as Newtown mum Judith Johns dies in house fire caused by stove left on