St John NT: Man, dog die in rural area donga inferno

Forensic vans and police remain on the scene of a rural property where a man and his dog were killed in a structure fire. SEE PICTURES FROM THE SCENE.

UPDATE 1PM, THURS: POLICE remain at the scene of a fatal fire which killed a man and his dog in Humpty Doo.

On Thursday, Forensic vans and uniformed officers were at the CattleDog Crt donga, which was engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon.

From the scene of a fatal house party in Humpty Doo.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he was in the dark over what occurred during the horrific incident a few blocks from his home.

He said most residents on the street kept to themselves.

From the scene of a fatal house party in Humpty Doo.

Meanwhile, NT police have publicly called for information from witnesses.

They said that a neighbour reported the incident after seeing the flames.

Major Crime are currently working to identify the deceased and NT fire and Rescue Service investigators and NT Police Crime Scene Examiners are trying to determine how the fire started.

UPDATE 7AM, WED: A DOG was “believed” to have been also involved in the devastating Humpty Doo house fire in which man died.

St John NT operations manager Craig Garraway said police, fire and ambulance all responded immediately to the scene about 1.30pm Wednesday.

“Tragic situation,” Mr Garraway told ABC Darwin.

“Unfortunately once the fireys was able to put that out and get into that building, they located a person in there and also I believe a dog as well.

“So very sad and obviously police and fire will be investigating that over the next few days and release more information later on.”

UPDATE 6PM, WED: ONE person has died in a house fire at Humpty Doo, southeast of Darwin.

On Wednesday, crews from the Palmerston Fire station and the Humpty Doo Fire station called to the fire about 1.40pm were able to contain and extinguish the blaze but were unable to save the person inside.

Crews had arrived to find a single-storey dwelling, commonly called a donga or ­demountable, on Cattledog Court fully engulfed in flames.

A body was found during an internal search of the structure.

Cattledog Court donga fire. Picture: (A) manda Parkinson

Detectives were deployed to the scene to interview ­witnesses and start an ­investigation.

NT Police were unable to confirm the person’s age or gender.

It is still unknown if anyone else was in the building at the time.

A specialist forensic ­response unit was arriving at the remote property about 3.45pm.

Police and fire investigators remained at the scene as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the fire.

Detectives at Cattledog Court, Humpty Doo donga fire. Picture: (A) manda Parkinson

Police deployed a drone over the property later in the afternoon as part of the ­investigation.

Police said it was too early to confirm if the fire was being treated as suspicious.

A St John Ambulance NT spokeswoman confirmed a critical response unit was sent to the fire.

Electricians were also called to disconnect power from the property.

Emergency services have attended several structure fires across the NT already this year.

INITIAL 3.30PM WED: ONE person is dead following a house fire in the rural area on Wednesday.

A body was pulled from the blaze in Humpty Doo following the structure fire.

Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service were called to a structure fire in Humpty Doo about 1.40pm on Wednesday.

One person is dead following a house fire at Cattledog Ct, Humpty Doo on Wednesday, March 9.

Palmerston and Humpty Doo crews arrived to find a single storey dwelling on Cattledog Ct fully engulfed in flames.

Fireys were able to contain and extinguish the blaze.

A body was found during an internal search of the burnt structure.

NT Police were unable to confirm the person’s age or gender and it is still unknown if anyone else was in the building at the time.

A Specialist Forensic Response unit was seen pulling into the remote property.

Police and fire investigators remain at the scene and an investigation has commenced into the circumstances of the fire.

A St Johns Ambulance NT spokeswoman confirmed a critical response unit was sent to the fire.

Electricians have disconnected power from the property.

One person is dead following a house fire at Cattledog Ct, Humpty Doo on Wednesday, March 9.

MORE TO COME.

Originally published as St John NT: Man, dog die in rural area donga inferno