A quiet Sunday in Sarina took a tragic turn when a devastating house fire claimed the life of a 71-year-old woman and left her 25-year-old son with severe burns. The harrowing incident unfolded at a high-set home on Kathleen Street on January 5, leaving the community reeling in shock and grief.
Emergency services were alerted just after 4.25pm, and when firefighters arrived, they found the home completely engulfed in flames. The inferno raged as crews fought tirelessly to bring it under control, but the intensity of the fire left little chance for escape. Inside the charred remains of the home, firefighters discovered the woman’s body in her bedroom.
Paramedics on the scene worked desperately to revive her, however they were unsuccessful in their attempt.
Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed that four individuals were assessed at the scene.
The woman was tragically declared deceased, while her 25-year-old son, who suffered severe burns to his arms, was transported to Mackay Base Hospital for urgent treatment.
Two others - believed to be firefighters - were treated for heat exhaustion and taken to the hospital in stable conditions.
Initial investigations suggest the blaze started in the kitchen, with Detective Inspector Emma Novosel revealing that an unattended stove may have been the cause. Early investigations allege that a person within the home had been cooking earlier that afternoon and accidentally left the stove on, sparking a fire that quickly spread through the Sarina home.
It is alleged that in the chaos, the young man desperately tried to save his mother. Battling through thick smoke and searing flames, he attempted to extinguish the fire and evacuate her. But as the blaze intensified, the oppressive heat and smoke overwhelmed him, forcing him to escape alone, badly injured.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire, but the home was left in ruins. Authorities established a crime scene as fire investigators worked to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Authorities are now urging residents to take extra precautions, particularly in the kitchen.
As the woman’s son recovers from his injuries, he now faces the unimaginable challenge of rebuilding his life while mourning the loss of his mother.
Mackay Life extends our deepest condolences to the family involved in this harrowing tragedy.
A devastating house fire in Sarina on January 5 claimed the life of a 71-year-old woman and left her 25-year-old son with severe burns
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