Three children dead after ‘suspicious’ house fire, mum expected to survive

Three children are dead following a house fire in Toowoomba, after two sisters died in hospital from severe burn wounds overnight.

Their mother – a 36-year-old – was under police guard and receiving intensive treatment at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital on Thursday morning.

Their nine-year-old brother died in the fire, with emergency crews recovering his body from the house after the blaze, close to midnight on Wednesday.

Three children have died, and a woman remains in serious condition under police guard following a fire at a house in Toowoomba.

The girls – aged four and seven – had been transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital for treatment of severe burns on Wednesday afternoon.

Three other family members escaped the fire – a 34-year-old man, an 18-year-old male and an 11-year-old boy – and have been discharged from hospital.

Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said police would speak with the children’s mother once her condition stabilised.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt

Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said police would interview the mother once her condition stabilised.

“She is in a critical condition, so has survived last night [and] is expected to survive, but things can change quite quickly,” Marchesini said.

“She will be in hospital for an extensive period of time.”

Marchesini said the 34-year-old was the woman’s partner, and the father of some of the children.

“There is another person that we have made contact with, in terms from interstate, that is a part of that family as well,” he said.

Marchesini would not speculate on the cause of the fire, and said the investigation would include any previous interactions between police and those involved.

He said the woman was found outside the home, and her partner and the 18-year-old had helped access the house to rescue the children.

Police remained on scene at the property on Thursday, undertaking forensic examinations with the assistance of the homicide squad.

Marchesini said officers were also conducting door-knocks in the neighbourhood, and speaking with family members.

“The first and foremost [priority] is around ensuring their health and wellbeing, providing support and obviously being able to elicit information around what happened,” he said.

Premier David Crisafulli said the fire was devastating and the Toowoomba community would “really be hurting this morning”.

“A little bit of the soul of a really tight-knit community will be feeling removed today,” he said.

“We have to do everything we can to make sure that a thorough, a detailed, and a respectful investigation is done.”

“We owe that to these kids.”

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Geoff McDonald said: “What has taken place is a tragedy and our thoughts are with family and friends.”

Investigators have urged anyone with information or footage to call Policelink on 13 14 44 or contact Crime Stoppers.

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