There’ve been emotional scenes at a service marking the 10th anniversary of the Slacks Creek house fire that killed 11 people.
The service was held on Tuesday at the Mount Gravatt cemetery where the victims were laid to rest.
Grandmother Fusi Taufa, 57, died along with her sister Teukisia Jeanette Lale, 42, and Fusi’s daughter Anna Malaia Taufa, 23, and her children La’haina Uheina Taufa, 6 and Kalahnie Fusikalau Fiavaii Taufa, 3.
Mrs Lale’s children Jeremiah, 17; Lini Paul, 17; Jeanette Lafoia, 13; Selemafi Letoia, 9; and Richard Steven, 7, also died along with Ardelle Tapanese Lee, 15.
All had just moved in to the house after escaping the 2011 flood event.
Today, a rebuilt home now stands at the site where the tragedy took place a decade ago.
A wooden memorial plaque is positioned on the veranda in honour of those killed.
The plaque reads “Kalau Place, Gateway to Eternity”.
Louie Naumovski – Founder of the Logan House Fire Support Network says a lot of good faith has gone into rebuilding the house but says there are still way too many fatal house fires across the city, since that terrible day 10 years ago.
The fire led to new regulations being introduced.
From the first of next year, Queensland will have the strictest fire laws in the country in which all dwellings sold or leased must have interconnected photovoltaic smoke alarms installed at the time the contract or sale.
Family, friends and Louie at the Tuesday service
So, what caused that fatal fire a decade ago?
In his report, Coroner James McDougall found there was no evidence the fire had been deliberately lit.
While he was unable to pinpoint the exact cause, he believed the blaze began in a downstairs office near a desk.
