Man, teen, toddler and baby found dead after duplex fire

The bodies of a man and three children – a teenager, a toddler and a five-month-old baby – have been found in the ruins of a fire at a duplex in central Queensland.

The man has been identified as Mathew Chilly, who was in his 30s. His relationship to the children was yet to be confirmed.

The home in Emerald, inland from Rockhampton, was fully engulfed when Queensland Fire Department crews arrived about 6.50am on Thursday.

Senior Sergeant Peter McFarlane said two people escaped, but Chilly, a teenage girl and a boy and girl both aged under two did not.

Later, those children were identified as five-month-old Desmond and toddler Maddison, who were staying inside the Opal Street home with family friends when the blaze erupted.

Their father was away in Toowoomba for medical treatment, and their mother was one of the pair who escaped the home alive.

The children’s great aunt, Sally Woulfe, told Nine News they were much-loved.

“They’re an Aboriginal family, so lots of aunties, lots of uncles,” she added. “It’s a small community so this would be touching a lot of families, not just ours.”

McFarlane said neighbours were trying to douse the flames with garden hoses when emergency services arrived.

The fire spread from one home to the roof space of another, but was contained by fire crews about 1.30pm.

McFarlane said the two people who escaped were taken to hospital for injuries he described as “more psychological than physical”.

“An investigation is under way, and it’s involving a lot of specialist sections from Rockhampton and also Brisbane to determine the exact cause of the fire,” he said.

The house is owned by the government, and an e-scooter battery is being investigated as a possible cause.

A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Public Works said the department was deeply saddened by the news, and was offering support to family and loved ones of those who perished, as well as neighbours.

“We will also provide any assistance to the Queensland Police Service and other lead investigating authorities as they work to determine the cause of the fire,” the spokesperson said.

McFarlane said the scene was “very sad and tragic”, both inside and outside of the home.

“We have a lot of families gathered around there,” he said.

“They are very tight-knit, extended families here in Emerald and they are gathering around each other.”

Earlier, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said it was “incredibly sad to see the loss of four lives”.

“When you deal with smaller towns, there is no doubt that those connections will be felt and the loss will be felt so deeply,” the premier told reporters.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family but also to the neighbours and the emergency services involved.

Crisafulli said Gregory MP Sean Dillion was on his way to Emerald.

In an online statement, Dillion said he was “ready to assist in any way required”.

“My heart goes out to the family and friends of those who have tragically lost their lives in the Emerald house fire today,” he said.

Central Highlands Regional Council also offered its condolences to the community.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire that occurred early this morning in Emerald,” it said.

“On behalf of the Central Highlands Regional Council and the broader community, our thoughts extend to the family and friends of those impacted.”

The fire comes just weeks after a woman was charged with murder over the deaths of a mother, Jordana Johnson, and two young boys, who died in a Gladstone house blaze.

The fire rocked the community, as it was revealed the boys, 12-year-old Jordan Norris and his 13-year-old friend Chazz Mather were at a sleepover.

With Abbey Geran

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