Person ARRESTED after tragic house fire that killed three children, including a five-month-old baby
A house fire in northern WA has tragically claimed the lives of three children
One person is in custody assisting police, Prime Minister Mark McGowan revealed
Firefighters were called to Anderson Street, Port Hedland late Tuesday afternoon
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One person has been taken into custody as police investigate a horror house fire that killed three children in Western Australia.
Firefighters rushed to Anderson Street in Port Hedland, 1,500 km north of Perth at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, when witnesses reported a house had gone up in flames.
After fighting for 30 minutes to bring the inferno under control, first responders found the bodies of three children in the wreckage.
The youngest was only five months old, while the two older children are said to be seven and ten years old.
Western Australian Police will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. local time to stay informed about the investigation.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark McGowan revealed that a person has been detained and is helping police with investigations.
“There is currently a criminal investigation into how the fire started and someone has been taken into custody,” McGowan said.
Police tape deposited on the street in Port Hedland after the tragic house fire on Tuesday afternoon (pictured)
Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said his close-knit community mourned the loss but will “come together” to support the family.
“It’s early days, we don’t know exactly how or why this happened, the police are still investigating,” he said.
“My condolences go out to the family and the community. Hedland is a wonderful community and they will rally behind the people who need it right now.
“This is just unprecedented, I’m lost for words that I really am, this just isn’t happening. It’s heartbreaking.’
The street was teeming with police and paramedics and police tape cordoned off the area hundreds of yards from the crime scene early in the evening.
Regional energy company Horizon has also been called to the scene and the police are investigating the cause of the fire.
“Local police, including detectives, will remain on scene tonight and specialist investigators from the Major Crime Division and Forensics will travel to Port Hedland to continue the investigation,” the police said.
The remote town of 14,300 people is located on the northern coast of WA, about 1,500 km north of Perth (file image)