<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The father of a young boy was weirdly silent and disengaged as his child screamed in pain from a house fire, a coroner has heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pre-school-aged boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died in hospital after being airlifted by helicopter from a rural property in southeast </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span> in 2017.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police investigated the fire as suspicious but no charges were laid, counsel assisting Kate Juhasz told coroner Megan Fairweather during the start of an </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/inquest" rel="" target="" title="inquest"><span>inquest</span></a><span> into the death on Monday in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nancy-guthrie-savannah-guthrie-usa-kidnapping-investigation/d56d2408-7704-4596-bec9-db346aefeee9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police examine septic tank in search for US TV host's missing mother</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two police officers who were first on scene about 8pm and tried to speak to the father gave evidence to the inquest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sergeant Peter Rumford said he found the father in the bathroom of the property's main house after seeing blood on the patio and hearing children wailing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He didn't provide me with any information," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/father-weird-after-sons-fatal-burns-coroner-told-queensland-court-news/833fbc18-5fa8-4aaa-b336-5add5c0683af" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I found it weird or peculiar that while his two sons were screaming and wailing he was standing in the shower with a cigarette in his hand."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The father and the boy's younger brother also suffered burns during the fire in a dwelling about 150 metres behind the property's main residence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The two boys were seriously burned and were sitting on a sofa while wrapped in sheets or towels but their father had lesser injuries, Fairweather heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One or both of the boys were making a sound like he'd never heard before, Rumford said, adding they were "unrecognisable" due to their injuries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LATEST:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cyclone-mitchell-forecast-campsite-mines-evacuated-as-cyclone-approaches-coast/dc27c584-7921-45ef-a0fa-e010244f5868" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Too late to leave' as Cyclone Mitchell whips up 140 km/h winds</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Senior Constable Andrew Bell testified he recorded audio and video during his time at the fire scene using a non-police issue body camera.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The father said "I don't remember anything. I just woke up and the house was on fire," Bell said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He told me his (ex-partner) was probably responsible ... if police had to point the finger at anyone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The father had a minimum level of interaction with his injured children, Bell said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't recall anything a father would normally do, interacting with them or calming them or giving them any reassurances.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was essentially disconnected from them. There essentially wasn't any connection I would expect or having concern for them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bell said he could not recall the father asking him about the health of the boys in the minutes before an ambulance arrived.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of the people who lived in the main house said they smelled smoke and heard a loud bang before looking outside to see the second dwelling on fire, Rumford said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>