Inside the isolated commune where twin four-year-old sisters died after 'a lit candle was left burning in their bedroom' while oblivious residents held a bonfire party nearby
- Four-year-old twin sisters died of smoke inhalation after their home caught fire
- It's understood the twins were visiting their father overnight at the commune
- Their father and other residents in commune were enjoying a bonfire and party
- Police are investigating whether a candle was left to burn at the home
- Do you know more? Email brittany.chain@mailonline.com
Residents of an isolated, alternate-lifestyle commune where twin four-year-old girls died are 'like family' and were holding a bonfire party nearby when tragedy struck, police believe.
About 4am on Sunday, the girls' father and his girlfriend popped their heads into the home, situated among about 19 other properties within the 100 acre commune in the Byron Bay hinterland.
The kids were sleeping together in a bedroom within close proximity to a piano. Sitting on the piano was a lit candle which sparked a blaze, police said.
Both girls were unresponsive and suffering from smoke inhalation, and their father's girlfriend made a harrowing call to triple-zero begging for help.
Residents who choose to live off-grid at the Nunkeri Multi Occupancy commune consider each other family, and were enjoying a collective bonfire well into the early hours of Sunday morning when tragedy struck
A member of the public reacts while holding a bouquet of flowers outside the home where twin four-year-old girls died following a house fire
The girls were sleeping together in a bedroom within close proximity to a piano. Sitting on the piano, police believe, was a lit candle which caused the fire
'Hurry, the babies can't breathe,' she told the operator on the end of the line. Paramedics arrived shortly after, but neither little girl could be revived.
The twins were visiting their father at the commune for the weekend. It's not yet clear how much time they spent in the isolated alternative living camp.
Aerial footage of the remote bush property shows several dwellings scattered among the trees.
There are no driveways, no fences to separate one home from the next. Cars park haphazardly wherever their drivers can find space.
The community relies on a water tank on the centre of the land and it's understood they pool resources wherever possible.
'They're like a family,' one local told Daily Mail Australia. 'They're all grieving so much right now.'
The 20-home commune has existed for 30 years and sits on 100 acres of farmland just 30 minutes' drive from Byron Bay
Neighbours dropped off flowers to the grieving family
Four-year-old twin sisters have both died from smoke inhalation after their home caught fire overnight. The home is within a 'multiple occupancy' community down this street, 30km west of Byron Bay
The commune is just 35 minutes' drive from the hustle and bustle of Byron Bay central - but for locals, it feels a world away.
While Byron Bay has been gentrified and flooded with holidaymakers and celebrities, Goonengerry and similar tiny towns nearby still consider themselves 'locals only'.
Residents embrace alternate ways of living and, put simply, 'enjoy a simple life'.
Those living within the commune were all together the moment the twins' father realised smoke was billowing from the room.
They were still there, shocked and confused, as emergency services arrived and tried to save the girls. A woman was also treated for shock at the scene.
Another woman fought back tears on Sunday as she delivered a bouquet of flowers, leaving them in the letter box.
A hand written note was left on one of the bouquets reading: 'Mourning with you.'
Horrified neighbours arrived at the home later on Sunday to drop bouquets of flowers to the family
The girls' father is crushed by the twins' deaths and 'in a bad state'.
'He blames himself. He's really shaken up,' one neighbour said.
Some of the first responders were then forced to break the tragic news to the girls' mother, who was not at the home at the time.
'They're shocked, gutted, grieving. (They have) no words,' another friend said.
Byron Shire deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye said locals, especially people living in these types of hinterland communities, were particularly tightknit.
The loss will be felt by the entire community, she said.
Police remain on the scene as they investigate the cause of the blaze
'The people at the scene obviously went in to check and saw what they saw and police were called,' Tweed-Byron Police District commander Superintendent Dave Roptell said.
'It's unbelievably devastating to see… anyone die in these circumstances. But two four-year-old females, it's just a tragic set of circumstances.'
Detectives will work with fire investigators, who remain on the scene, to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
There was little damage to the home itself.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police are investigating whether a candle was left burning inside the home overnight
There are no driveways, no fences to separate one home from the next. Cars park haphazardly wherever their drivers can find space that's out of the way
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