Detectives investigating a fire that claimed the lives of a father and his five sons have not identified any suspicious circumstances, despite the fact that they have yet to discover the cause of the blaze.
Wayne Godinet, 34, along with his four-year-old twins Kyza and Koa, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons Zack, 11, and Harry, 10, died in an inferno at their home on Russell Island on Sunday morning.
He returned to the burning building in an attempt to save the children, but was killed inside when the second floor collapsed. The fire was so intense that three buildings were destroyed.
The boys’ mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28, and her stepsister Connie Campbell, 20, fled to safety and survived.
On Friday afternoon, a spokesman for Queensland Police said they are ‘continuing to investigate the circumstances’ surrounding the devastating blaze, but said nothing suspicious had been found – despite extensive trawling of the ruins.
Father Wayne Godinet, 34, and his five sons (pictured) were killed after being caught in a deadly fire on Queensland’s Russell Island
The blaze was so severe that firefighters were only able to search through the remains of the home late Sunday afternoon after fighting it from 6:18 a.m.
“Extensive investigations have so far not led to finding the cause of the fire,” said the spokesman.
However, no suspicious circumstances have been identified.
“Now that the autopsies are complete, a comprehensive report will be prepared for the coroner.”
Police have appealed to the public for any information that may aid in their investigation.
While the cause remains a mystery, Daily Mail Australia witnessed police recovering two charred gas canisters from the rubble on Thursday afternoon.
The big update comes a day after about 100 of Mr Godinet’s relatives from across Australia and New Zealand paid homage to him and his sons with a powerful Haka.
Their chants and cries filled the air of the sleepy, tree-lined cul-de-sac where such a tragedy would have been unthinkable a week ago.
Dozens of relatives of a father who died in a house fire on Russell Island with his five sons paid tribute to them at a special ceremony Thursday afternoon (pictured)
Relatives performed a Haka ceremony at the scene of the fire to honor the memory of the victims
Roses and gerberas were left against a charred piece of masonry at the scene of the tragedy
They gathered at the end of the quiet cul-de-sac gravel track shortly after 2pm, with many moving foreheads in a traditional Māori salute.
Parents held their children close, while others clasped their arms.
Then the midday silence on the sleepy island was suddenly filled with the mournful cries of a woman believed to be Mr. Godinet’s mother.
Dressed all in black and dark tones, she led the mourners down under the police tape.
There they faced a scene of utter destruction.
A burnt-out jeep stood beside the gnarled and twisted corrugated iron roof of the Queenslander’s estate, which had been razed to the ground.
A woman, believed to be Mr Godinet’s mother, sprinkles water on the property as his father Jacob Cope looks on in tears
The staff of the island’s rural fire crew stood behind the group as some family members then performed the powerful Haka to honor the memories of Mr. Godinet and his sons.
A family member put a reassuring arm around the shoulder of Mr. Godinet’s father, Jacob Cope, who was dressed in a Dayboro Cowboys rugby jersey.
The grandfather cried as a woman, believed to be Mr Godinet’s mother, sprinkled water over the grounds.
Samantha Stephenson, who lost all of her children in the fire, was not in attendance.
Neighbors recalled seeing Mrs. Stephenson run out screaming “my kids, my kids,” as her partner ran back into the inferno to save the five boys sleeping upstairs.
A heartbroken Ms Stephenson previously urged every parent to ‘check your smoke alarms and hold your babies’.
One of her sisters later visited the site to place three roses and three gerberas against a charred piece of masonry in memory of the victims.
Moments before the grieving relatives arrived, officers packed two charred gas canisters involved in the blaze into the back of a police car.
Mourners touch foreheads in a traditional Māori greeting (pictured)
Earlier in the day, detectives from Bayside CIB on the mainland combed through the ashes and collected several items which they took with them in an evidence box.
A detective retrieved what appeared to be a broken plate and the fragment of a glass candlestick or vase.
The tragedy has shaken the small island community of about 3,500 people.
David Woodley, 62, who moved to Russell Island 18 months ago to retire, said the past week had been “absolutely devastating.”
“You can see the sad faces and feel the fear and worry and depression,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
Mourners embraced after the ceremony
On Thursday afternoon, police officers disposed of two charred gas cylinders that had been involved in the fire
“Everyone is in total shock.”
Mr. Woodley has dropped off a bouquet of flowers at the local police station to thank them for their work.
On Monday, police said they had not ruled out foul play.
The fire was so intense that it hit three properties, leveling one, hollowing out another and damaging a third.
Daily Mail Australia spoke to a neighbor who lives behind the property and had provided police with footage of the fire.
The children’s mother, Samantha Stephenson, 28 (right with Mr Godinet), and her half-sister, were released from hospital after escaping the blaze
Their investigation at the scene is now over and the police tape has been removed.
But police say it could be weeks before they can determine the cause of the fire – if at all.
It comes as police revealed that autopsies have been performed on the six victims of the tragedy.