Deadly home fire sparked during birthday celebrations


Harlyn (left) and Jordan (right) were in the house when it caught fire. Photo: GoFundMe
A second child has died after a house fire near Hobart that ignited during birthday celebrations for one of the siblings.
Harlyn, 22 months, died in the blaze at the Rokeby home in Hobart’s eastern suburbs on Sunday morning.
On Tuesday, police confirmed her sister Jordan, 5, who had been fighting for her life in hospital, also passed away.
Investigators have revealed the fire ignited in a lounge room during a family gathering for Harlyn’s sister Jordan’s fifth birthday on Monday.
Neighbours broke windows of the house to try to get people out.
“Without their assistance, this tragedy could have been even worse,” Tasmania Police Inspector Andrew Keane said.
“The Rokeby community is a very tight community, always looking out for each other.
“We’ve had a lot of offers of help from people in the street already.”
An online fundraising page set up by a family friend had on Monday afternoon raised more than $10,000 to help with funeral costs and rebuilding the home.
“The house and all contents where the Aunty and her two boys lived is completely gone and they have nothing left,” said the appeal.
Emergency services personnel who were first on the scene have been left “devastated” but had returned to work, Keane said.
“They’re human beings,” he said.
“They have to go home at the end of their shift to their family and their children after seeing terrible things.”
Tasmania Fire Service investigator Tim McKay said the initial scene was “very difficult”.
“(We) will leave no stone unturned to work out what’s happened,” he said.

The aftermath of the house fire in Rokeby, Hobart. Photo: AAP
Preliminary assessments have not determined what sparked the fire, but investigators say there were no suspicious circumstances.
Daniel Steel, the girls’ uncle, told the ABC Harlyn had a “generous” smile.
“She was such a chatterbox … she was learning everything. She was the light of her parents’ life. She was the light of my life,” he said.
Local mayor Brendan Blomeley said the region’s council would seek to provide support.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and all those impacted,” he said on social media.
“We are grateful for the first responders and local heroes who put their safety on the line to assist those in need.”
-with AAP