Residents in shock at destroyed house
anything I’ve never seen years like this in all my of living here Neighbour
AN investigation is underway into the police response to a mental health call-out at an Ayr house which was destroyed by fire hours later, leaving a woman dead and a man fighting for life.
Police and paramedics were first called to a Home Hill Rd house about 2.15am after a resident called emergency crews about “some comments” made from someone at the property.
Crews attended, spoke with a 47-year-old woman and her 65-year-old male partner, and left a short time later.
Just over three hours later, the house was on fire, leaving the couple with serious burns.
Townsville District Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said there will be a full investigation into the cause of the fire, and the emergency response to the incident.
“We are still undergoing investigations, a crime scene has been established and we haven’t established the cause of the fire at this point,” Superintendent Lawson said.
The fire at the single-storey timber home was called in about 5.30am after a passerby raised the alarm and helped the severely burnt couple.
They were rushed to Ayr Hospital in a critical condition before being flown separately to Townsville University Hospital. The female patient died last night.
The other man, in his 20s, was treated for smoke inhalation.
Fire crews could not save the timber house, which was completely gutted by fire and declared a crime scene by police.
Supt Lawson said the scene was “graphic”, but did not speculate on how the fire
started.
“At this stage we still haven’t established the cause of the fire, so until we can find out how the fire started we wont be considering charges,” he said.
Investigations will commence as to whether there were any court orders in place.
Residents of the usually quiet Home Hill Rd said they woke to a chaotic scene.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in all my years of living here,” one neighbour said.
Another neighbour, Bev, said her
husband had to be taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation and the fire was only metres from razing her home too.
“He’s okay. I’m just thankful we’re alive and safe,” she said.
“It’s been a bit of a tough time. Thank you to the emergency services – we are safe.”
The property was sold in July last year for $175,000 after being on the market for more than 800 days.
The Bruce Highway was reduced to one lane for most of the day as crews worked at the scene.