A mother-of-five who escaped a fatal house fire which killed her young son has been put under police guard as she fights for life in hospital in a critical condition.
The home of Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, 36, and partner Justin Gibson, 34, in Harristown, 130km west of Brisbane, erupted up in flames just after midnight on Wednesday.
Five of the couple’s children – aged 4, 7, 11 and 18 – managed to escape with varying injuries.
But a body believed to be of her nine-year-boy was discovered inside during a search of the fire-ravaged property after firefighters managed to quell the blaze.
A formal identification is yet to be completed but Queensland detectives are now probing any history of domestic violence among the residents.
Ms Gibson was airlifted to Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital with serious injuries, while Mr Gibson, 34, was taken to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a stable condition.
A four-year-old girl and seven-year-old girl were airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital where they remain in a critical condition.
Her 18-year-old son, Drake, was taken to Toowoomba Base Hospital where he has been treated for non-life threatening injuries. Her 11-year-old son escaped uninjured.
The home of Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, 36, (pictured) and partner Justin Gibson, 34, in Harristown, 130km west of Brisbane , erupted up in flames just after midnight on Wednesday
Five of the couple’s children (pictured) – aged 4, 7, 11 and 18 – managed to escape
Firefighters discovered the body of a missing child near the front door after extinguishing a ferocious blaze in Toowoomba
The house remains a crime scene and is currently being forensically examined as part of Operation Xray Paxton with assistance from the homicide investigation unit.
Neighbours smashed windows in an attempt to free the children from the home.
Neighbour Will Cuffe ran to help the family as soon as he saw the fire.
‘We were awake and heard some loud shouting, so we went to see what was happening and saw a lot of people out on the street,’ he told The Courier Mail.
‘We heard the smoke alarms, then saw the smoke and flames. After we saw the smoke, it took about three minutes and the house just went up in flames
‘We saw the mother, the father and some of the young kids, The mother was holding the kids and taking them to the ambulance
‘Two of the young kids were walking, but they were really badly burnt.’ he said. ‘The dad had a cut on his arm.’
A witness who phoned Triple-0 said the home was fully engulfed by the time he ended the call to emergency services.
Mother-of-five Ellouisa Brighton Gibson (pictured) has been put under police guard as she fights for life in hospital in a critical condition
Forensic were seen at the Merritt Street home in Harristown
The fire broke out after midnight on Wednesday
Queensland Police have not yet confirmed the body is that of the missing child and are awaiting a post-mortem examination to identify the remains.
‘This is a tragic event and we are deeply saddened by this incident,’ Detective Inspector Renee Garske told reporters.
‘Our hearts go out to the Toowoomba community at this time and the family and friends of the persons involved in this incident.’
A crime scene was declared and homicide detectives were called in.
Det Insp Garske confirmed police will look at any history of domestic violence after reports there was an argument before the fire and the woman allegedly went to a police station on Tuesday.
‘We are in the infancy of the investigation, so that will formulate part of our investigation,’ she said.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service station manager Neil Goodman said fire crews located the child’s body near the front door.
‘Once (crews) could bring the fire under control sufficiently, just near the front door, they located one (deceased person),’ Mr Goodman told 7News.
A child has died after a horror fire engulfed a home in Toowoomba overnight
Queensland police were seen at the scene of where the blaze broke out
The family’s dog survived the fire and was being cared for by a neighbour.
Mr Goodman said firefighters were greeted with a ‘wall of flame and heavy smoke’ when they arrived at the scene as the fire mostly impacted the front of the home.
‘The guys had quite a difficult time making access and getting in to conduct a primary search,’ Mr Goodman said.
After speaking with a family member who was ‘hysterical’, Mr Goodman advised fire and rescue crews on where they might be able to find the missing child.
‘We’re all fathers, we’ve all got children, so its always hard, it’s a little bit harder when its sort of similar to your own situation,’ Mr Goodman said.
It took about 30 minutes for four fire crews to extinguish the fire.
Anyone who may have information or relevant vision, including CCTV or dashcam footage, is being urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14
