Investigations into the cause of a house fire that claimed the life of a toddler are continuing tonight, as another child injured in the blaze remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The toddler, believed to be a girl around one-year-old, died inside the home on Benboyd Circle in the Hobart suburb of Rokeby at around 9am on Sunday.
Tasmania Police Inspector Darren Latham said that “a number of people” were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Others were hospitalised, including a child with critical injuries and an adult who sustained a serious laceration to their arm.
“As you would expect with any investigation into the death of a child or any person, we take it very seriously,” Latham said following the fire.
“There’s nothing to suggest anything suspicious, but it’s important that we keep an open mind and look at everything.”
Latham said a fire investigator was combing through what remains of the home to determine the cause of the blaze, while police would speak with those who were inside.
He commended the efforts of neighbours and praised the emergency services personnel who worked to rescue those trapped inside.
“They did a magnificent job in the circumstances and so did all of the emergency services that turned up,” he said.
“When I arrived there, I had police and paramedics doing CPR on children, on an adult.”
“And at the same time, I’m looking at that to the right, I’ve got firefighters doing everything they can to try and save whoever’s in the house.”
The police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing, with a report being prepared for the coroner.
