Qld: Four family members confirmed dead in house fire

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2004
Qld: Four family members confirmed dead in house fire

An Easter Sunday tragedy has claimed the lives of a family of four, with an explosion
and fire tearing through their farmhouse in far north Queensland.

Police say the badly-burned bodies of a couple and their two daughters have been recovered
from the charred ruins of a farmhouse near Tully in north Queensland.

They say the man and woman were aged in their early 50s, and their daughters were aged
18 and nine.

Emergency workers say fire ripped through the fibro cottage on a cane farm near Feluga,
8 kms north of Tully, about 5.25am (AEST) yesterday.

Detective Inspector JOHN HARRIS says investigations have revealed that a substantial
explosion occurred inside the home, but at this stage there are no suspicious circumstances.

He says it's a terrible tragedy at Easter, and some of the emergency services crews
knew the people involved.

Inspector HARRIS says the woman was a local school teacher and the man worked in the
banana industry.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service area director NEVILLE NEUCOM says firefighting efforts
were hampered by a lack of water, with crews having to bring in water supplies.

AAP RTV ldj/sco/jo

KEYWORD: HOUSEFIRE (TULLY)

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