Community Mourns After Tragic Lawnton House Fire
A tight-knit community in Moreton Bay is grieving the devastating loss of a 13-year-old girl who died in a horrific house fire that tore through her family home in Lawnton on Sunday morning.
The young victim perished when flames engulfed the two-storey brick property, while four other family members managed to escape with severe burns. The survivors include a man and woman in their 30s and two other teenagers, all of whom remain in critical condition in hospital.
Neighbours Describe Terrifying Scene
Local residents witnessed the horrifying incident unfold, with neighbour John McWha describing the rapid escalation of the blaze. "The fire brigade came around, they were quickly in there and the next minute the whole place just exploded," Mr McWha recalled.
He added that despite efforts from bystanders to help, the intensity of the flames made rescue attempts impossible. "There were people you could see trying to help but the flames were just horrendous."
The fire completely gutted the family home, leaving the structure with its roof collapsed and the property destroyed. Emergency services closed the street in both directions for most of Sunday as investigations continued.
E-Scooter Under Investigation as Possible Cause
Queensland Police have revealed they're examining whether an electric scooter might be responsible for starting the deadly blaze. Detective Senior Sergeant Joseph Zitny confirmed that investigators are focusing on electric vehicles found at the property.
"There are some vehicles, an e-scooter and perhaps an e-bike, but that's still forming part of our investigations," Detective Senior Sergeant Zitny stated.
The tragedy has prompted concerns about the safety of lithium-ion batteries commonly used in electric scooters and bikes, which have been linked to other fires across Australia.
Community and Leaders Express Heartbreak
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed his condolences to the devastated family and the broader Lawnton community affected by the tragedy. "It's incredibly tragic and it involves some young people and that is heartbreaking," Mr Crisafulli said.
The incident has shaken the northern Brisbane suburb, with locals coming together to support the grieving family as they face the loss of their daughter and the critical injuries of four family members.
Fire investigators continue to work at the scene to determine the exact cause of the blaze, with the e-scooter theory remaining a key line of inquiry. The investigation is expected to take several days as authorities piece together the sequence of events that led to this devastating outcome.
