16 fire crews called to Burleigh Heads after blaze rips through Goodyear Autocare

A resident who lives just metres from a blaze which destroyed a local business, has shared a blow-by-blow account of the shocking fire.

16 fire crews called to Burleigh Heads after blaze rips through Goodyear Autocare. Photo: Justin Pumford

Burleigh residents were sent into lockdown as toxic fumes billowed through the air in a fire which has destroyed a local business.

Emergency services rushed to Goodyear Autocare in Burleigh Heads after residents reported two “loud bangs” at 5.50pm on Monday.

Seconds after, social media was flooded with footage of thick plumes of black smoke blanketing Burleigh and its surrounding suburbs.

A Queensland Fire Department (QFD) spokesman said more than 16 crews were at the scene before 6pm.

At 7.30pm police established an exclusion zone from Burleigh St to the north across to West Burleigh Rd to West St, Tabilban St and across to Dunlin Drive up to Christine Ave.

Residents were then told by police to stay inside and lock their windows and doors as toxic fumes were billowing out from the tire shop.

The Public Safety Preservation Act was revoked three hours later at 10.48pm, however some residents claimed they could still smell the smoke on Tuesday morning.

Fire crews were able to get the fire under control by 8.45pm and extinguished at 12pm.

Crews remained on scene assessing the area throughout the night and into the morning as they wait for a fire investigator to determine what caused the fire.

At the centre of the scene was local resident Jenny Pumford who said her son was in a workshop just metres from the inferno.

“Holy s**t,” she said.

In the blow-by-blow video, which was more than 10-minutes long, fire crews did not arrive for at least 10 minutes, even though the Burleigh Heads Fire Station was only a four-minute drive away.

“Where are the fire brigade,” she said.

In the video, a person can be heard saying he was welding some steel before the building caught alight.

“The welder might have been hot, there might have been a rag there. I don’t know,” he said.

Others who watched on said they could see the devastation in owner David Cushieri’s face.

“He’s devo, look at him. Poor guy,” one bystander said.

A video posted to Facebook by Ms Pumford’s son Justin showed the extensive damage to the tyre and auto shop, its black walls, burnt-out sign and smashed windows.

The community said they would rally behind the owner and his staff as they pick up the pieces from the devastating fire.

“Everyone knows Dave, the owner, is truly the best and so kind,” Brodie Smyth said on Facebook.

“Hope everyone is okay and the community rallies behind them.

“They have been a godsend to me over the years.”

One resident said they spotted a Goodyear Autocare worker crouched down out the front of the business “looking very distraught”.

“I asked, ‘Is everyone all right?’ He said, ‘Yeah, there’s only two of us working back late’,” he said.

“He seemed a bit traumatised to be honest.”

Investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as 16 fire crews called to Burleigh Heads after blaze rips through Goodyear Autocare