Child dead after fire rips through Central West home

September 12, 2026 — 8:38pmA four-year-old child has died after a fire tore through a home in the state’s Central West on Saturday.Emergency services were called to the home in Woodstock, about 22 kilometres north-east of Cowra, just before 3pm. Officers arrived to find the house well alight.A woman and two children were able to escape, but the four-year-old remained unaccounted for. The woman was taken to Cowra Hospital in a stable condition, suffering from smoke inhalation.Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters extinguished the blaze before locating the body of the child inside the home.“A crime scene has been established, and inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire are ongoing,” NSW Police said in a statement.“A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.”Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.Ellie Busby is a Parramatta reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners