A Springfield family’s Christmas celebrations turned to catastrophe early on Boxing Day morning when a fire tore through their Peachface Crescent home, sending eight people to hospital.
Emergency services responded to the single-storey residence just after 5am on 26 December, where flames had already engulfed the property. The eight occupants, including extended family who had gathered for the holidays, managed to escape the inferno.
Five adults were transported to Ipswich Hospital, with two treated for smoke inhalation. Two others were taken to the Mater Hospital, whilst another person was admitted to Queensland Children’s Hospital. All patients were reported to be in stable condition.
Tanya Daylight, who has lived at the address for 10 years, described the terrifying moments as the fire took hold.
She recalled feeling the flames overhead and struggling to breathe as the fire consumed oxygen from the air around her. Ms Daylight said the family felt fortunate to have made it out alive, as she had feared they wouldn’t escape.
A family member indicated the fire may have been sparked by an e-scooter battery that was charging overnight. Two people reportedly arrived home in the early hours to discover the charger sparking and catching alight.
However, a Queensland Fire Department spokesman stated that the extent of damage to the property made it impossible to confirm the cause at this stage.
Ms Daylight issued a warning to others about the dangers of charging personal transport devices indoors.
The blaze claimed the lives of two family cats, Lexi and Amber, though three dogs—Marshmallow, Franklin and Rex—were found safe after initially being feared lost. Video footage captured the moment 18-year-old Chamerkah Turner was reunited with Franklin, a sausage dog who had crawled out of the wreckage.
Neighbours who were woken by screaming and explosive sounds rushed to assist the trapped family members.
Jack Houston, who lives next door, attempted to fight the flames with a hose before realising some family members remained in the backyard, unable to scale the fence. He and his partner Holly Hamlyn-Harris located a sledgehammer for the family to break through the fence panel.
Mr Houston explained that the mother couldn’t climb over the fence, prompting one of her daughters to use the sledgehammer to tear down a section so she could escape.
Ms Hamlyn-Harris described the experience as incredibly stressful and praised the daughters as heroes for their quick action in waking everyone and helping them escape. It’s understood one person suffered cuts after punching through a window to flee the burning home.
Another neighbour, Peter Spethman, said he was woken by screaming and popping sounds. He described seeing frantic people in the front yard before witnessing the entire roof collapse. Mr Spethman said the house went up extremely quickly, with nothing visible except smoke and flames.
The displaced family now faces the challenge of finding accommodation, with relatives noting they’ve lost phones, clothing and even shoes in the fire.
Understanding e-scooter battery risks
Lithium-ion batteries, which power e-scooters and similar devices, have become a growing fire concern across Australia. According to the Queensland Electrical Safety Office, these batteries should only be charged with approved chargers displaying the regulatory compliance mark, as using incorrect chargers can cause overheating and fires.
Fire and Rescue NSW data shows lithium-ion battery fires are amongst the fastest-growing fire risks, with authorities across multiple states reporting increased incidents involving e-mobility devices. Safety authorities recommend charging these devices during daylight hours when users are home and alert, rather than overnight or whilst unattended.
The Electrical Safety Office advises checking both the device and charger for any signs of damage before use, including cracked casings, discolouration or damaged cords.
Published 26-December-2025
