NT Police say fuel used in Alice Springs fatal fire that started ‘as a result of a fight’ between couple

Fuel was used in a fatal fire that started ‘as a result of a fight’ between a couple at a town camp on Friday, police have revealed.

FUEL was used in a fatal fire that started “as a result of a fight” between a couple in the Hidden Valley Town Camp on Friday night, police have revealed.

A 34-year-old woman who was “extensively burnt” succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, while a 36-year-old man is in a serious condition and being treated for burns at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

He has not yet been charged in relation to the matter.

Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Schumacher described the incident as “a senseless tragedy” and said people in the town camp were “horrified”.

The case is now being treated as a homicide.

Detective Schumacher said police were “doing as much as possible” to prevent domestic violence in Central Australia, which grapples with one of the highest rates of domestic and family violence in the country.

The origin of the fire is still being investigated, but police confirmed fuel was believed to have been used.

A view of houses in the Hidden Valley Town Camp, located on the outskirts of Alice Springs. Picture: Dan Peled

Police said the couple were visitors to the Hidden Valley Town Camp, which is located on the outskirts of Alice Springs.

Detective Schumacher said police had so far collected more than a dozen witness statements, including from other people who were in the house at the time of the fire.

“We’ve got a number of witness statements and certainly we’ve got some forensic evidence at the scene,” he said.

“We’re still compiling that and making sure that we assess the evidence appropriately before we lay charges.

Detective Schumacher said the crime scene had been closed and the house secured, but the residence was “not habitable at the moment” due to fire damage.

By the time first responders arrived at the scene, most of the fire had already been extinguished thanks largely to one helper, according to police.

“There were bystanders there to try and put out the fire,” he said.

“There was certainly one individual who helped a lot who didn’t actually reside in the house – he’d come to help.”

The tragedy follows an unrelated incident in Alice Springs in January in which R Rubuntja, an anti-domestic violence campaigner, was allegedly murdered in a domestic violence incident.

Tangentyere Council chief executive Walter Shaw said the board and staff were “shocked and saddened” by the tragic events that had unfolded at the town camp on Friday.

“Staff were at Hidden Valley Town Camp immediately Saturday morning offering assistance to family members and other residents of the house,” he said.

“Alternative accommodation was found for those who required it. Tangentyere continues to offer support to those impacted by this terrible event.”

Originally published as NT Police say fuel used in Alice Springs fatal fire that started ‘as a result of a fight’ between couple