Neighbours heard screams before mum, son and friend died in Gladstone house fire

The cause of a fire that killed a mother and two children in Central Queensland remains a mystery as police refused to reveal if the inclusion of homicide detectives suggested foul play.

Jordana Johnson and her son Jordan Norris, along with his friend Chazz Mather, died in the early-morning blaze in Gladstone on Wednesday.

Neighbours told Nine News they heard two bangs followed by a woman screaming for help from inside the house on Whiting Street just before 6am.

The noises were so loud one of the neighbours said they thought it was an aeroplane engine.

The deaths are being treated as unexplained, though homicide detectives are currently assisting with the investigation.

Detective Acting Superintendent Luke Peachey said police are “keeping a really open mind” about the incident.

“We’re not sure what the cause of the death is,” he said.

A fourth person known to the family was located and spoken to, but is not in custody. They were taken to hospital with minor injuries, but have since been discharged.

Peachey would not say if the person was in any kind of care at the time he addressed media on Thursday.

He said there was no person of interest and nothing to suggest it was a domestic violence-related incident.

A second Gladstone house was established as a crime scene on Wednesday night, with police standing guard outside the home.

“[We] received information that there might be linkage between that house and the primary crime scene,” Peachey said.

Police are currently conducting forensic examinations at the second crime scene.

Whether the fire was a case of arson or an accident was yet to be determined by police.

It took five crews hours to put out the flames, which were so intense they caused the top floor of the two-storey home to crumble.

A Department of Housing spokesperson confirmed the home was owned by the department and said it would work with investigators to determine the cause.

“We will also provide any assistance to the Queensland Police Service and other lead investigating authorities,” they said.

It is “too soon” to tell if fire alarms at the property were working, Peachey said.

He said yesterday it seemed to be a place “people come and go from”.

Police are working to recover the bodies from the home with the “utmost respect”, Peachey said.

Specialists from Brisbane were helping, and heavy earth equipment was needed to remove the roof of the home, which was expected to occur on Thursday afternoon.

The victims’ families would be supported as authorities tried to piece together what caused the fatal fire, he said.

“We’d like to pass on our sincere condolences to all those families who are affected,” he said.

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher said he left parliament early on Wednesday to support the victims’ families, and asked for people to refrain from spreading incorrect information online.

“Please be mindful, respectful, and considerate as our community comes together to help those who are grieving,” he said.

Anyone who was in the area of the property from 5am to 6.30am on Wednesday, particularly those with CCTV or dashcam footage, has been urged to contact Gladstone police or Crime Stoppers.

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