Brisbane fire a tragedy of 'unimaginable scale'

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Wed, 24 Aug 2011 7:00p.m.

Neighbours, friends and family gathered outside the house, where many sang and prayed (Reuters)

Neighbours, friends and family gathered outside the house, where many sang and prayed (Reuters)

Three generations of one family have died in a Queensland house fire.

Veteran police and firefighters say it is the worst blaze they have ever seen.

Eight children and teenagers aged between 3 and 17 are among the 11 Tongans and Samoans presumed dead after the fire ripped through the house in Logan City, 25km south of Brisbane.

Three people managed to escape.

Logan is a very particular Brisbane community – strongly resembling some parts of Auckland. The people who have died have relatives here.

It has a large Samoan and Tongan population and the church is central to many families.

One of the community’s religious leaders is pastor Terry Walker whose large church runs a food bank used by the families and their neighbours. He spoke to Campbell Live this afternoon.

Then Campbell Live reporter Kate King spoke to Superintendent Noel Powers about the great difficulty facing police and fire safety workers. The charred remains of the building make identification and removal of the bodies a slow and dangerous job.

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Comments

30 Mar 2012 04:05a.m.

brisbane jobs wrote:

Can I just say what a comfort to find someone who genuinely understands what they are talking about on the net. You certainly understand how to bring a problem to light and make it important. I hope this would not happened again in Brisbane.

25 Aug 2011 07:49p.m.

joanne mackay wrote:

I think the main thing we have to remember is the tragedy this family has suffered not what support services they may or may not have used, very disappointed in this type of reporting.

25 Aug 2011 11:10a.m.

Tai wrote:

What does where people get their food have to do with the loss of these 11 lives? Why is it assumed that if two families live together, it is because they are trying to "save money"? I watched this story with the hope of seeing what it is our family is facing. Instead, an angle of poverty faced by "Tongans, Samoans and NZs" is shown, (are you serious?!) and nothing about the devastating circumstances that were unfolding that day/night. My heart aches for the two families who have lost their loved ones in such a horrific way. May peace be restored in your hearts and lives soon. Stay strong :(

24 Aug 2011 10:47p.m.

Phil wrote:

What exactly are the assumptions and generalisations you are talking about? It reads like a factual story to me..

24 Aug 2011 09:01p.m.

Tui wrote:

I fully agree with Vasiti, disgusting piece of journalism indeed!

24 Aug 2011 08:29p.m.

Vasiti wrote:

What a disgusting piece of journalism? What is the point of this? Are you that desperate? Lose the racial stereotype! Who the hell gives you the right to impose these assumptions and generalisations? Im completely appalled and disappointed! Very sad!