A major investigation is underway after two people died in a house fire at Kingston, in Logan, south of Brisbane, on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to a two-storey home on Adelaide Street shortly after 3:00pm following reports of a large house fire. When firefighters and police arrived, the property was already engulfed in flames, with thick smoke visible across much of the Logan area. Witnesses reported seeing the smoke plume from several kilometres away.
Queensland Police confirmed that a man and a woman were found inside the house and were declared dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet formally released the identities of the victims, pending notification of their families.
Four other occupants managed to escape the burning home before emergency crews arrived. Police said none of those who escaped suffered physical injuries, although support services are expected to be made available given the traumatic nature of the incident.
Queensland Fire Department crews worked for about an hour to bring the blaze under control. Due to concerns that the fire could spread to neighbouring properties, authorities issued an emergency declaration and established an exclusion zone around the area. The emergency alert was later lifted once firefighters contained the fire.
Queensland Police Inspector Jason Barrowcliffe said investigators are working to establish exactly how the fire started. A crime scene has been declared, which is standard procedure for fires involving fatalities, allowing specialist investigators and forensic officers to thoroughly examine the site. At this stage, police have not confirmed whether the fire is being treated as suspicious.
Neighbour Tiffany Tinker described the frightening moments as the fire rapidly spread through the home. She said the house became fully engulfed within minutes, leaving little opportunity for anyone inside to escape. Residents nearby were shocked by the speed and intensity of the blaze.
Investigators from Queensland Police and fire authorities will examine the remains of the property, interview witnesses and assess any available evidence to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities have appealed to anyone with information, CCTV footage or dashcam vision from the area during the afternoon to contact police.
The tragedy has deeply affected the Kingston community and marks another fatal residential fire in Queensland within a short period. Police have urged residents to ensure smoke alarms are working correctly and to have a home fire escape plan in place, while the investigation continues
