Lawnton, Queensland: Teen dead, four critical after horrific blaze, police investigate e-scooter battery link

An investigation is underway after a devastating house fire in Moreton Bay claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl and left four others critically injured.

Police are examining several possible causes, including whether an e-scooter battery may have sparked the horrific blaze.

Emergency crews raced to Darcy Way in Lawnton just after 5.30am on Sunday, arriving to find the home already swallowed by flames and its roof collapsing.

Two teenagers, a man and a woman in their 30s, were pulled from the inferno with life-threatening burns and taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

All four remained in a critical but stable condition on Sunday evening.

Neighbours reported chaotic scenes as thick smoke filled the street, with some describing hearing raised voices moments before the fire, followed by children screaming for help once the blaze erupted, Courier Mail reported.

Firefighters managed to contain the inferno before dawn, with nearby residents evacuated as a precaution. A crime scene was declared shortly after.

Moreton District Senior Sergeant Joseph Zitny said detectives and specialist fire investigators are now working through a complex scene to determine how the tragedy unfolded.

“Following on from that, is that we have now enlisted not only our forensic people but also the Queensland Fire Department forensic people with the view to investigating the matter to establish what has taken place,” he said outside the property.

He confirmed that not all occupants were related, and investigators were still working to formally identify the young person who died.

“In relation to the deceased within the dwelling, we are still working to confirm the identity of that person,” he said.

Asked whether a faulty e-scooter battery may have triggered the blaze, Sergeant Zitny said it remained one avenue being explored.

“There has been an indication such as that, and that forms part of our inquiry and that’s one particular line that we are certainly progressing through,” he said.

He added that police had previously attended the Lawnton address, though it was too early to know whether past incidents were relevant.

Witnesses described a frantic effort to save lives. Neighbour Keiran McWha said people were hosed down as they tried to rescue a dog, which he helped secure.

“They were more worried about the dog than themselves,” he said.

Another local, Steven Cannon, recalled hearing arguing before spotting smoke.

“I just didn’t know how to think or how to process it, honestly,” he said. “Then all hell broke loose.”

Premier David Crisafulli said the tragedy had rocked the community.

“It involves young people, and that is heartbreaking,” he said.

It was Queensland’s third deadly house fire in a month, following fatal blazes in Emerald and Gladstone.