Huge blaze engulfs house
A DERELICT house that sat vacant on prime land for years has been destroyed by a massive fire, which police are investigating.
Just after 11.20pm, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services were called to a house fire at Oxford St, Hyde Park.
Crews arrived quickly, but the house was fully engulfed in flames. Photos from the scene show firefighters battling bright orange flames that took over the inside of the house and broke through the roof.
Pictures showed smoke billowing from the house, which sat just metres from Charters Towers Rd.
Fire crews battled the flames for about an hour and eventually put out the blaze about 12.20pm. The site was secured by police until it was safe to enter, and they started investigations on Thursday morning.
Townsville District Detective Acting Inspector Dean Cavanagh said police were treating the fire as suspicious until more information came to light.
“Scientific investigators processed the scene as everything has to be examined to determine the cause of the fire,” Inspector Cavanagh said.
“We are seeking anyone with CCTV footage or dashcam footage to come forward to police.”
Daylight showed the true extent of the damage, with the middle of the old Queenslander suffering most of the damage. Wooden railings and poles were turned to charcoal and the old tin roof was left bent and barely intact. No one was in the house at the time of the fire.
The derelict house was being advertised for sale by a commercial real estate agent as a potential spot for a medical centre.
According to RP Data, the site had been approved for a two-storey development, which included a 750sq m officer space and a 45sq m shop.
It has been listed for sale in December 2017, but remained on the market when it burnt down. The house was last sold for $90,000 in 1989.
The site is currently owned by Coben Pty Ltd, which is listed under an address in Upper Mount Gravatt.
Police released the crime scene on Thursday afternoon, but are still investigating the cause of the fire.