{"id":55527,"date":"2026-07-22T00:14:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/55527\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T00:14:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T00:14:18","slug":"two-killed-in-logan-fire-four-others-escape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/55527\/","title":{"rendered":"Two killed in Logan fire, four others escape"},"content":{"rendered":"

The husband of a woman killed alongside a long-time family friend in a devastating house fire south of Brisbane has told how quickly the fire took hold, sharing his heartache as he and other occupants managed to escape.<\/p>\n

Leanne Laver, 62, and family friend Phillip Gordon, 73, lost their lives in the blaze which took hold of a timber home at Adelaide St, Kingston on Tuesday, July 21.<\/p>\n

Mrs Laver and her husband Sean \u201cAri\u201d Laver, who had been together for 42 years and married for 32 years, had lived in the rental home for 35 years.<\/p>\n

Mr Laver, his daughter Chloe, son Jay, and housemate Lucas Kirby managed to escape the blaze.<\/p>\n

A devastated Mr Laver broke down in tears as he remembered his wife of more than 30 years and his friend who he referred to as his brother, saying how quickly it took hold after they heard a bang.<\/p>\n

Mr Laver said he is struggling to come to terms with their loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling it, I should have died with my wife,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what am I going to do for my kids?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all that\u2019s going through my head. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife didn\u2019t deserve that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Laver said he ran for the front door to get a hose and thought that his wife was following him.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was right at the front door. I ran down for the hose, thinking that she wouldn\u2019t be following,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we realised the fire was under the house, I tried to go back. I couldn\u2019t get in. <\/p>\n

\u201cI called her, told them to try for the door. I don\u2019t know what to say. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe got out in our underwear and with the phone. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I realised my wife had not come down the front stairs, the last thing she\u2019ll remember is that I ran past her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought she was coming right behind me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I could stop it. I thought I had a chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved her, I love her still, and I failed her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should have gone back, I knew it was death.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should have gone back anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Laver said Phil was last seen entering the house, in a bid to save his cats. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think he went back for his cats,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he was nearly at the back door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a boarder with us, Lucas, he said he saw him at the back door and he tried to push him out, but Phil pushed past him and went back in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Daughter Chloe Laver launched a GoFundMe campaign<\/a> on Wednesday to raise funds for a funeral and to cover basic necessities for the surviving family members, who escaped the devastating blaze with only the clothes on their backs. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile my father, my brother and I managed to escape with just the clothes on our backs, our lives have been forever changed,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Chloe revealed that Phil Gordon, her uncle, \u201cselflessly ran back into the flames in an attempt to try and save (Leanne).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis loss comes after a long, gruelling battle,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. She had just transitioned to immunotherapy, and we finally believed the worst was behind us.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn an instant, the fire took her from us, alongside Uncle Phil, five of our seven cherished cats, our two parrots, and our two fish tanks. Only two of our cats survived. Right now, we have absolutely nothing and nowhere to turn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five cats and two birds were also lost in the fire, which destroyed the home, four cars and three motorcycles. <\/p>\n

Mr Laver wanted his wife to be remembered as devoted and a loving woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver 42 years, she was the most faithful, loving, selfless, sacrificing woman,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was devoted, steadfast, unwavering, brave, loving, self-sacrificing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Laver said his friend Phillip was like a brother to him. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known Phillip since I was 17, I called him my brother in every way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was an only child, he\u2019s all I knew of a brother, my parents loved him.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhil was the ultimate stick in the mud, garrulous, silly, and as genuine as the day was long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Laver said his focus now will be pushing on for his children. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to find somewhere to live,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can keep us fed and pay for a motel room for a couple of weeks, but that\u2019ll be it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got to find somewhere for a year where I can take my kids and rebuild \u2013 try and live with this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven fire crews battled the blaze and successfully brought it under control in just under one hour. <\/p>\n

Police made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act shortly after arriving at the scene, with the exclusion zone bordered by Adelaide Road, Augustus Street, Hope Street and Clare Road. <\/p>\n

It was revoked at 4.55pm.<\/p>\n

Witness Aaron White said he was on his way to a job when he saw the smoke. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire was quite big. My friend saw two really big flames,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou could see the smoke from the [Pacific] motorway.\u201d<\/p>\n

A crime scene has been declared as investigations into the cause of the fire are under way, with police still guarding the property on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

Fire investigators arrived on scene early on Wednesday morning, with an electrical fault to be probed as a potential cause of the blaze.<\/p>\n

Anyone with relevant information or vision is urged to contact police.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The husband of a woman killed alongside a long-time family friend in a devastating house fire south 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