The mother of three children who perished in a house engulfed by fire in Port Hedland yesterday is in police custody and being questioned over their deaths, police say.
Firefighters were called to a fire at a home on Anderson Street yesterday afternoon and found the bodies of the three children inside the house.
The children were a 10-year-old girl and two boys, one aged 7 and the other a five-month-old baby.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Allan Adams said the mother of the children was assisting police with their inquiries.
He said the fathers of the children had been told of the "tragic deaths".
"I do know that the mother was spoken to in the immediate aftermath of the fire," Mr Adams said.
The homicide squad, arson investigators and forensic teams arrived in Port Hedland on Wednesday afternoon to assist local police.
Mother injured in fire
He said the mother was also receiving medical attention for injuries sustained in the blaze.
"The investigation will take time," he said.
A coronial investigation would also be held, involving several government agencies, which would examine issues "leading up to the incident to better understand if there were opportunities for this to be prevented".
Commissioner Adams said a post-mortem would be held to determine how the children died.
Speaking in a measured tone, his voice at times cracking with emotion, Commissioner Allan said the children's deaths would hit the community hard.
"This tragedy will have a profound effect in the Port Hedland area," he said.
"The family and extended family, but across the state, whenever we see these types of incidents occur, they resonate through every West Australian."
Support offered
He said emotions would be running high in the town in the wake of the tragedy.
"What I would ask of the community is to let the police do the job," Mr Adams said.
He offered his condolences to the family of the children and said those impacted by the tragedy would be offered support and assistance.
"I've spoken to the first responders, making sure that we've offered every assistance and support to our police officers," he said.
"But that extends obviously to neighbours, the immediate family, the extended family and those that are impacted by this incident."
WA Premier Mark McGowan described the incident as a "very, very sad thing."
"Obviously, it's a terrible tragedy, three children losing their lives is incredibly sad," he said.
"Our thoughts go to them but also all those people affected, their family and the first responders.
Investigators at scene
Local police, including detectives, remain at the scene. Police chaplains, psychologists and other support staff were also heading up from Perth.
Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said it was devastating news.
"Something that you never want to have in your community ever — it's such a loss."
Anderson Street remains cordoned off, with police tape preventing access to the modest single-storey house, part of a duplex.
Earlier today a family with three children dropped off soft toys near the scene, and another woman left a small bouquet.
Resident Lorraine Injie said the town was devastated by the news.
"It's hit most of us really hard as you can imagine. Many people haven't slept," she said.
With a population of around 16,000, Port Hedland is the major shipping port of the Pilbara and the biggest bulk export port in the world, where the region's iron ore riches are loaded into giant carriers and exported.
Anderson Street is one of the main streets of the town, close to the port area and beach.
