QLD:Cause of fatal fire now the police focus

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2011
QLD:Cause of fatal fire now the police focus

BRISBANE, Aug 26 AAP - A police investigation into a house fire that killed 11 people
will now focus on the cause of the blaze, after the final two bodies were removed from
the site.

Police say the fire appears to have started in a downstairs office and quickly engulfed
the high-set house at Slacks Creek, south of Brisbane, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Superintendent Noel Powers told AAP on Friday the grandfather, Tau Taufa, had been
working downstairs in the office and went upstairs to have a shower.

When he returned downstairs, he found the office ablaze.

Detective Inspector Chris Jory said Mr Taufa grabbed a hose and started trying to extinguish
the fire and at the same time rouse his family.

He said seven people, including Jeremiah Lale's partner and children, had gathered
in the lounge room, but that floor had collapsed, possibly while Mr Lale was trying to
find an escape route.

Three bodies were found on the ground floor, one in a rear right bedroom and three
in the front right bedroom.

Det Insp Jory said the family had received a threat recently that a house - not necessarily
theirs - would be burnt down.

But the person responsible was interviewed and ruled out, he said.

"There is no suggestion of foul play," Det Insp Jory said.

"We have a version from Misi (Matauina) and it's consistent with that of the other survivors."

Police are yet to fully interview the three men who survived and witnesses.

The final two bodies of the extended Tongan and Samoan family killed in the fire were
removed from the house about 1pm on Friday.

Five bodies were removed on Thursday and four on Wednesday.

The victims included three women and eight children, the youngest three years old.

None of the home's gas cylinders, which have been blamed for the blaze, had exploded.

Forensic officers will continue to search for clues into the cause of the fire on Saturday.

AAP peb/jhp

KEYWORD: FIRE INVESTIGATION

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