Two sisters, aged 10 and 13, have died in a blaze in a granny flat in northern Tasmania.
The bodies of the girls, Shanzel and Ruby Brewer, were found after emergency services crews were called to the fire in Austin’s Road in Turner’s Marsh near Launceston about 3:00am on Sunday, after the girls’ father raised the alarm.
“The resident of a property there reported a granny flat at the rear of the property was alight and that two of his children were unaccounted for,” Tasmania Police Inspector John King said.
“Crews arrived and found the granny flat fully alight, they subsequently extinguished the blaze,” Inspector John King said.
“Tragically a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old girl have lost their lives in that fire.”
He said preliminary investigations were indicating there may have been a fault on an electrical cord leading out to the flat.
Inspector King said there were no fire alarms in the flat.
“Not only have the two little girls unfortunately perished in this fire, the three other children were in the main house.”
The girls’ father, Clifford Brewer, has posted an emotional tribute online.
“To my babbie girl Shanzel brewer I love you with all my heart… and your sister Ruby Brewer, I will always love yous two girls,” he posted on Facebook.
“Yous was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Family and friends of the girls expressed their grief and shock on Facebook.
Kelsey wrote she was “waking up to hear this tragic news and still can’t believe my two beautiful little cousins have been taken away from us”.
“You will forever be in my heart and I hope you both knew, that I love you dearly. Rest in peace,” she wrote.
Miraki wrote: “My heart is broken I feel so lost!”
“No words can explain the pain! I’m speechless! I can’t believe it. It just doesn’t feel real.”
“Omg I can’t believe your gone.”
Kristy wrote she was “thinking of the children’s family and the emergency services who attended.”
Police said a detailed report would be compiled for the coroner.
Curled from abc.net.au