Lucky escape from suspect unit blaze
Police launch arson probe into flat fire
A CHILD and three adults managed to escape a suspected arson attack at an East Toowoomba unit early yesterday.
The Margaret St unit block remained a crime scene as specialist investigators combed through the damaged apartment after the fire about 3.05am.
Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said the exact point of origin of the fire was yet to be determined.
He said the Margaret St unit was extensively damaged but the occupants - a child and three adults - managed to escape uninjured, along with residents in the neighbouring units.
“Very fortunately everyone got out from the flat and the other flats around it,” Snr-Sgt McCusker said.
“This event could have caused a loss of life.
“There’s quite a lot of structural damage and (it is) quite fortunate there’re no other persons injured.”
Paramedics assessed three people at the scene but did not transport anyone to hospital.
Scenes of Crime officers and fire investigators were yesterday working to identify what sparked the blaze, but initial examinations suggested a motorbike in the ground-level garage may have been set alight.
Police were also investigating whether an object was thrown onto the unit’s veranda.
Snr-Sgt McCusker said the fire was believed to have been deliberately lit, and appealed for people in the area to come forward with information.
“We believe at this stage there are other persons involved in this fire,” he said.
“Although it is around three in the morning, there could be people going about their normal work at that time.
“We ask any members of the public in the area at the time, probably between five to three and half past three and may have seen cars leaving the scene or any other persons on foot, to come forward.”
Information can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.