Hotel damage bill at $4.5m
A FEROCIOUS fire that razed two buildings in the Toowoomba CBD caused at least $4.5 million in damage to the award-winning Quest Toowoomba apartments.
The eastern wall of the hotel was severely damaged and it could take months to repair.
A fire broke out at Amigo’s Bar and Grill on Margaret St about 11pm on Tuesday.
The fire destroyed the restaurant and rock climbing venue Adrenalin Climbing Gym.
Flames from the fire reached several storeys in to the sky and it burned for hours.
FKG owns the building and development manager Dallas Hunter said the fire had badly affected about one quarter of the building.
“The rest of it is fine,” he said.
“They are hoping they can reopen part of the building but the whole place smells of smoke.
“We might have to replace the carpet and bedding to get rid of the smoke smell.”
In the corner that was damaged, windows and the facade of the building will likely need to be replaced.
“There’s some major works that will go on there,” Mr Hunter said.
The structural integrity of the building performed well under the stress of the fire, according to Mr Hunter.
The building actually performed beautifully from a fire point of view.
“It did everything it was supposed to do.
“It’s just it was a very intense fire because it was an old timber building (Amigo’s Bar and Grill).”
Mr Hunter said the higher section of the hotel was more badly damaged than lower sections.
FKG construction staff were at the site yesterday with assessors and will have more of a complete picture
of the works needed in coming days.
“That corner of the building will take probably three months to fix,” Mr Hunter said.
FKG managing director Gary Gardner said the repair bill would be between $4.5 million and $5 million.
He said repair works would start next week.
It is hoped the rubble from the demolished restaurant and gym will be cleared next week.
Mr Gardner said carpets, beds, lounges would need to be replaced.
He said the interior would likely be repainted.
FKG leases the building to Quest Toowoomba and will foot the bill for repairs.
Mr Hunter said the building was fully insured.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Acting Chief Superintendent Megan Stiffler said investigators had determined where the most likely ignition point was at Amigo’s Bar and Grill and Adrenalin Climbing Gym.
“We believe the fire started under the floor space,” she said.
“Gas lines to the building contributed to the fire’s intensity and due to the amount of damage, the cause is not determined.
“There is so much damage we can’t identify the actual cause.”
History of the hotel Construction of the 74-room apartment building was officially started in April 2014.
Located at 133 Margaret St, the property features a combination of studio apartments with kitchenettes, along with one, two and three bedroom apartments, onsite car parking, gymnasium and conference room facilities.
The apartments won the Residential Exterior Award in September 2015.