A tragic house fire north of Brisbane has claimed the life of a teenage girl and left four other people in a critical condition, with authorities investigating a lithium battery as the potential cause of the blaze.
Chaotic Morning Scene
Emergency services were called to a property on Darcy Way in the Moreton Bay suburb of Lawnton at approximately 5:30 am on Sunday. Upon arrival, firefighters were confronted with a fiercely burning home, the roof of which had already partially collapsed due to the intensity of the fire.
The inferno was so severe that it prompted the evacuation of neighbouring houses as dozens of fire crews worked tirelessly to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to other properties.
Victims and Harrowing Rescue
Firefighters confirmed that one person, understood to be a teenage girl, was tragically trapped inside the home and died at the scene.
In a desperate bid to help before professional help arrived, residents found two teenagers—a boy and a girl—and a man and a woman, both in their 30s, on the front lawn. Locals gathered around the survivors, pouring water on their serious burns.
Several witnesses reported hearing terrifying screaming and banging coming from the burning building before the four individuals managed to escape.
All four survivors were rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Their condition was later updated to critical but stable by 3 pm that afternoon.
Neighbourhood Shocked by Rapid Blaze
Neighbours described the rapid and frightening escalation of the fire. "It went from black smoke, within a minute, to flames," neighbour Keiran McWha recounted. He also reported hearing "a small explosion" that sounded "like a mini gas bottle," which significantly intensified the fire.
Another resident, Steven Cannon, described the scene as 'insane'. "I just didn't know how to think or how to process it, honestly," he said. "I heard people arguing, and then I came out and saw the smoke. Then all hell broke loose."
Enes Seferovic from the Queensland Fire Department emphasised the ferocity of the blaze, stating the heat was intense and that crews were unable to reach the missing girl in time.
Official Response and Investigation
The road was closed in both directions as authorities launched a formal investigation into the fire's origin. A key line of inquiry will focus on an e-scooter and e-bike found on the property, with their lithium-ion batteries being examined as a potential source of ignition.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed his profound sadness, stating, "It involves young people, it's a tight-knit part of the city and it's a tight-knit community. It's just so incredibly sad... It involves young people and that is heartbreaking."
Evacuated neighbours were permitted to return to their homes shortly before 7 am, left to contemplate the devastation that had unfolded on their quiet street.
