Rokeby house fire: Police inspector describes scene of deadly blaze that claimed life of toddler

A Tasmania Police inspector has shed light on the tragic blaze that claimed the life of a toddler on Sunday, saying authorities could not yet rule out the possibility the fire was deliberately lit.

Emergency services on the scene at a house fire in Rokeby. Picture: Linda Higginson

An investigation has been launched after a toddler died in a fire and a family home was burnt to the ground on Sunday, leaving a suburban Hobart community reeling.

Police and Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) crews were called to the scene of the blaze on Benboyd Circle at Rokeby just after 9am. The fire was already raging upon their arrival and an infant was found dead inside the house.

The baby girl’s exact age is yet to be confirmed but it’s understood she was about one year old.

Emergency services on the scene at a house fire in Rokeby. Picture: Linda Higginson

Another young child and an adult were transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital, with the child being in a critical condition and the adult suffering a laceration on her arm.

Three other children were also taken to hospital to be treated and observed for smoke inhalation.

Tasmania Police Inspector Darren Latham said a report would be prepared for the coroner and that TFS investigators had not yet determined the cause of the fire but weren’t “ruling anything out”.

“There’s nothing to suggest anything suspicious but it’s important that we keep an open mind and look at everything,” he said.

Emergency services respond to fatal fire at Benboyd Circle Rokeby on 19 January 2025. Picture: Elise Kaine

“And that’s going to take some time as we speak to witnesses and the people who were in the house, who clearly at the moment are being treated for injuries.

“At some stage we will work through it with them and get that information that will help us piece together what’s happened.”

Inspector Latham said his “heart goes out to the family” and noted there were “up to around eight” people in the house at the time, including children and adults.

It’s believed the majority of the occupants of the home were related.

Tasmania Police Inspector Darren Latham. Picture: Rob Inglis

Inspector Latham spoke of what he saw at the scene, shedding light on the emotional impact the tragedy will likely have on the local community, as well as the emergency service workers who were in attendance.

“When I arrived there, I had police and paramedics doing CPR on children, on an adult. And at the same time I’m looking at that, to the right I’ve got firefighters doing everything they can to try and save whoever is in the house,” he said.

“I think that does highlight the good work that they do.

“Without knowing the people there [in the community] it’s very clear that it’s very distressing for the people in the street to see what’s occurred and to hear what’s happened.”

Police are encouraging anyone who may have information that could assist their investigation to contact them on 13 14 44.