Owner of island home where father, five kids died is fined $667.25 for having no fire alarms
A NSW woman has been fined for failing to install legally required and compliant smoke alarms after a fire killed a father and five children at a Queensland property.
The scene of a house fire at Todman Street on Russell Island, off the coast of Brisbane in Queensland, Monday, August 7, 2023. Fire investigators remain at the scene of a deadly Queensland house fire that claimed the lives of five young boys and their father on an island off Brisbane. (AAP Image/Russell Freeman) NO ARCHIVING
Donna Rose Beadel was the owner of the home on Russell Island, in Moreton Bay near Brisbane, that burned down in August 2023.
Cleveland magistrate Deborah Vasta handed down the maximum fine of $667.25 for failing to comply with smoke alarm legislation.
“It seems a pittance, however it’s not me to comment on the laws,” she said.
Wayne Godinet, 34, and his boys died after an early morning blaze tore through the Todman Street property.
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, and another woman survived after fleeing as the two-storey home was engulfed in flames.
The fire also destroyed two neighbouring homes and left several people needing treatment for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
The 61-year-old property owner from Tweed Heads was not present when the deadly blaze occurred or when she was sentenced in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Ms Vasta read Beadel’s guilty plea – which had been submitted in writing – to one count of owner failed to comply with smoke alarm installation.
The 100-year-old house had been relocated from Brisbane, engaging an electrician to do what was required prior to legislation changes, the court heard.
“It’s absolutely no excuse that she failed to keep abreast of the laws required of an investment property owner in having the premises legally wired with smoke detectors after January 2022,” Ms Vasta said.
The deadly blaze left the small Moreton Bay community in shock.
After the fire, relatives travelled from around Australia and New Zealand to pay their respects to Mr Godinet and the five boys at Russell Island.
The children included four-year-old twins with the other boys aged 11, 10 and three.
Police expect to submit a report to the coroner in the “near future”, officers said earlier.
