Looking for answers after fire guts house
FIRE investigators combed through the remains of an Edmonton house yesterday after it was completely destroyed in an early morning inferno.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews were called to the blaze at the corner of Thomson Rd and Stewart St about 3.25am.
Fire investigation officer Guy Bulmer said the high-set Queenslander was well ablaze by the time crews arrived.
“It was going like the clappers when we arrived but there was no exposures, so the only concern for attending crews initially was whether it was occupied or not,” he said.
Mr Bulmer said it was understood the building had been derelict and that its former occupant was evicted two weeks ago. The house, which contained asbestos, had been slated for demolition.
Early investigations into the blaze had not pinpointed a cause, but Mr Bulmer said as the structure was unoccupied there was a chance the fire had been deliberately lit.
“Due to the damage of the structure it makes it very difficult to conduct an investigation because you can’t get on the floor up top,” he said.
“But we did use a 42m aerial platform and got photos to do a cause determination and also to identify that there was no one upstairs.
“And outside of that we are doing a preliminary perimeter investigation.
“With the potential for iron to come through the floor, which is pretty much gone, it’s not worth (risking) people underneath.
“You don’t know what could go and with the intensity of the fire, everything is weakened.”
The blaze was extinguished about 4.50am and the first fire crews left at 5.40am.
A single crew remained throughout the morning to dampen hot spots.
Paramedics and police attended but no one was injured in the fire or trapped in the building.
“At this stage we have not been able to determine the exact nature of the fire and there is certainly no suspicious persons (being investigated by police),” Mr Bulmer said.