Family embraced after three children die in fire
Source: AAP
A community is rallying around a devastated family reeling from a horror house fire that has killed three children.
A 36-year-old mother-of-five is fighting for her life in a Brisbane hospital after the family home went up in flames.
Two of her daughters, aged four and seven, have died after neighbours helped six people escape the Toowoomba home, west of Brisbane, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A body, believed to be her nine-year-old son, was found in the charred remains.
Support has been thrown behind the familyâs other members â a 34-year-old man, who is the father of some of the children, and two sons aged 18 and 11.
The older man has been released from hospital along with the 18-year-old, while the 11-year-old was the only one who escaped the burning home unharmed.
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Floral tributes and a teddy bear have been placed outside the Toowoomba home as people try to comprehend the tragedy.
Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald said the fatal house fire had created a âripple effectâ felt throughout the community.
âWhen you talk about small children and loss of life that also has a significant effect on schools they attend and therefore families,â he told AAP.
âThereâs an investigation into the circumstances and the community would like it resolved as quickly as possible to help move on in some way.
âBut itâs a very difficult time for many people.â
The Toowoomba house has been declared a crime scene with police treating the fire as suspicious, calling in homicide detectives.
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Police said they hoped to speak to the mother in a bid to understand what happened in the lead-up to the fire.
Medical advice suggested the mother â who is in hospital under police guard â would survive but âthings can change quite quicklyâ, Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said on Thursday.
Support services are on offer at schools of the familyâs children.
The community is also doing what it can, with local charity Tonyâs Community Kitchen calling for donations and a GoFundMe campaign launched.
âI would like to start this fundraiser in hopes to raise money for his (the 34-year-oldâs) children, childrenâs medical expenses, accommodation, and other supports needed in this hard time,â a family friend wrote on the GoFundMe page.
âThis event has been unimaginable and any support would be greatly appreciated.â
McDonald said the fatal fire had a âprofound impactâ on locals, first responders, brave neighbours who aided the escape and most notably, the affected family.
âThis community is one that pulls together in times of adversity, disaster and tragedy,â he said.
âWe have started to galvanise support around the family and support networks they have and that will continue.â
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