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Three children dead in house fire at Singleton in NSW Hunter Valley Singleton house fire: three children dead despite 'heroic' efforts of neighbours
(about 1 hour later)
Three children have been killed in a house fire in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Authorities are investigating whether a lit fireplace contributed to a blaze that ripped through a family home in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales killing three children, despite the brave efforts of neighbours.
Fire crews were called to the blaze about 3.30am on Wednesday to find the home on Brittcliffe Close in Singleton well alight. Emergency crews found the house on Brittcliffe Close in Singleton engulfed in flames about 3.30am on Wednesday after several calls to triple zero.
Two girls, whose ages are yet to be confirmed, were taken to Singleton hospital but died. A boy, whose age is also unknown, was found dead inside the home. Two girls – both aged five – were rescued by firefighters and taken to Singleton hospital but died soon afterwards. An 11-year-old boy was later found dead inside the home. It’s believed the trio were siblings.
A 31-year-old woman and an eight-year-old boy were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. They were later taken to hospital but their conditions are unknown. A 31-year-old woman and an eight-year-old girl were also taken to hospital for treatment for burns and smoke inhalation. They are in a stable condition.
“When it is deemed safe to do so, police and fire investigators will examine the home to identify where and how the fire started,” NSW police said. “Police will prepare a report for the coroner outlining the full circumstances surrounding the incident.” A NSW police superintendent, Chad Gillies, said it was believed all five lived in the house.
Neighbour Brock Forbes said he and his family were woken up by a “big bang” and tried to fight the blaze until fire crews arrived. “I would like to emphasise the heroic nature of the four residents in the nearby vicinity who tried to assist the people inside the house and importantly got the mother and eight-year-old daughter out,” he told reporters.
“[We heard] just smashing and screaming so we ran out and grabbed the hose,” he told the ABC. Early investigations suggest the fire started at the front of the house, before spreading to the back of the home.
“I was trying to put the fire out and trying to save them and firefighters came and got it under control.” A Fire and Rescue NSW superintendent, Joshua Turner, confirmed there was a fireplace in the house, but it was too early to say if it had sparked the blaze.
Footage showed the house entirely engulfed in flames and part of the roof collapsed. “The fireplace is one of the factors that will be looked at to see if it was a factor, or if it can be eliminated,” he said. “But obviously during these winter months, heating appliances are quite prominent in fire causes.”
Smoke detectors were installed in the home and could be heard by neighbours and emergency crews.
“With the intensity of the fire ... the neighbours and those that attended and tried to assist did a pretty incredible job,” Turner said.
A neighbour, Brock Forbes, said he and his family had been woken by a “big bang” and had tried to fight the blaze until fire crews arrived.
“[We heard] just smashing and screaming so we ran out and grabbed the hose,” he told the ABC. “I was trying to put the fire out and trying to save them and firefighters came and got it under control.”
Footage showed the house engulfed in flames. Part of its roof collapsed.
New South WalesNew South Wales
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