Police are appealing for public assistance following a house fire in Emerald, central Queensland, that killed four people on Thursday. The victims include a 36-year-old man, a 15-year-old girl, and two babies aged five months and 20 months. The fire broke out at a property on Opal Street just before 7am.
Emergency services arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames. Six people were inside at the time; a 25-year-old woman and a 38-year-old woman escaped and were taken to hospital for treatment. The mother of the two babies is among the survivors.
Detective Acting Inspector Brett Richard said the incident has been traumatic for the families, the community, and emergency services. He confirmed that police are not treating the fire as suspicious but are investigating whether an electric scooter battery may have started the blaze.
Specialist fire and police investigation units from Rockhampton and Brisbane are at the scene examining the cause. Police are urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from Opal Street between 6am and 7am on November 6 to come forward to help establish a timeline.
The community has rallied around the grieving families, with tributes left near the property and a local church opening its doors for prayer. Reverend David Piper lit four candles in remembrance of the lives lost. Maria Beach, a local manager, said the tragedy has devastated the town.
