The mystery of a toddler who died in a shed fire in Tasmania may never be solved, but a coroner has ruled it was not deliberate.
A three-year-old boy died when a shed in his stepfather's backyard exploded in November 2022, killing him and seriously injuring a four-year-old family friend.
An inquest into his death has found the fire was not suspicious and was likely an accident caused by him or his friend when they entered the shed.
"I am satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances and there is no evidence of a third person being involved in this shed fire, the cause is accidental," coroner Robert Webster said.
"(But) I am unable to determine, on the basis of the evidence, the identity of the person who contributed to the cause of the fire other than to say (the boy) and (his friend) were in the vicinity of the shed at the time the fire commenced."
The inquest was told the boy's mother and stepfather were smokers and lighters were often left around the home, though usually out of reach of children.
At the time of the fire, the boy's mother was feeding her other child when she heard an explosion from the backyard in their Launceston home.
Her son's friend ran screaming from the shed, with singed hair and burns on his arms and legs.
The mother ran to the shed and ripped open the door, which had been swung closed.
"She could not see (her son), she was unable to retrieve him due to the intensity of the smoke and the heat," Mr Webster said.
She then went and asked another housemate who was in the shower for help, though he also could not access the shed.
"He recalls seeing black smoke coming from the rear of the shed and flames coming out of the shed, he tried to go into the shed but it was simply too hot," Mr Webster said.
Neighbours and police eventually arrived and helped put out the fire, but the boy was found dead in the corner.
The other toddler was flown to Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment for his burns.
Mr Webster said the cause of the fire was likely from fuel containers stored in the shed coming into contact with a "mobile ignition source", though no lighters were found in the shed after the fire.
He recommended parents educate their children on the risks of fire and keep flammable items out of reach.
"This very tragic event has had life-changing effects on not only one but two families and their friends," he said
"I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones."
