Man held as home burns
CAMPBELL GELLIE, MICHAEL SAUNDERS AND BRITT RAMSEY
POLICE are trying to piece together the lead-up to a fire at Burleigh Heads that caused toxic smoke to billow across the suburb on Saturday.
Neighbours described a chaotic scene on Hayle St as a house containing asbestos went up in flames.
Anthony Robinson said he saw a man trying frantically to get into the home.
“We just heard a guy screaming out ‘Rocky, Rocky’ and then we came down and he was trying to get into the front door. It was all on fire,” Mr Robinson said.
“Then we got the hose on the fence and the police turned up and told us to go away.
“The whole bottom of the place was on fire. But everyone got out and seem to be okay.”
A 37-year-old man who lived at the address was arrested by police after he refused orders not to enter the burning house.
Police say the man repeatedly tried to enter the home before being physically restrained and put in a police paddy wagon.
Michael Cook, who lives nearby, said his youngest daughter noticed smoke coming from the unit block.
“It took the fireys about eight minutes to get here, and it took a little while to put out, about 20 minutes. But the house was instant, within two minutes it went from not much to the whole house. She’s all timber,” Mr Cook said.
Mr Cook said he had run to neighbouring houses to ensure nobody was trapped.
“The wind was blowing south, pretty strong and all the flames were hitting the unit block next door,” he said.
“And nobody next door knew, so we went next door and smashing all the doors, woke everybody up. Got them out. Then the wind changed direction and grabbed hold of the side of the units here, then we ran back and knocked on all their doors.”