Heater began fire that killed three

Press, 20 August 1979, Page 1

Heater began fire that killed three

The police have established that an overturned heater started the fierce fire which killed an Addington man and two of his sons early on Saturday. Because of the intense heat, neighbours were forced to stand by helplessly after cries were heard from inside the blazing house at 102 Torrens Road. Those killed were Graeme Wayne Gosney, aged 32, and his two sons. Zane Lionel Gosney, aged nine, and Dean John Gosney, aged seven. The sole survivor of the fire was Mr Gosney’s. eldest son, Craig, aged 12, who

broke a bedroom window and jumped to safety soon after the fire broke out about 1 a.m. He and Graeme Gosney, aged 10, who had been spending the night with friends, are now staying with Mrs Gosney in nearby. Burke Street. Mr and Mrs Gosney had been separated for some time. , Neighbours said they had heard Mr Gosney come home about midnight, and had been alerted about an hour later by the sound of breaking glass as the fire took hold.

The old, single-storeyed stucco house was well ablaze by the time firemen arrived.

The police thought at first that the fire might have been suspicious — partly because of the way the flames spread quickly through the house — and a team of 10 detectives worked through the rest of the night. It had later been established that the fire had been started accidentally, by an electric heater which was found lying face-down on the floor of the lounge, said the officer in charge of the inquiry (Detective Senior-Sergeant A. G. I. Rodgers). Mr Gosney’s body was

found in the lounge. One son was found in the hallway, and the other at the foot of his bed.