Shop owner recounts start of fire, reveals long-term ‘squatter’ problem

The neighbour who called firefighters when smoke began billowing from an abandoned building directly behind his shop on Wednesday says the area has a long-term problem with squatters.

An administrative block formerly part of the now-closed Chalk Hotel in Woolloongabba went up in flames just after 4pm on Wednesday, destroying several nearby businesses and sending a tower of black soot across the Brisbane skyline.

One person was seriously injured and another remains missing. No update on the search has been provided by police.

More than a dozen investigators and firefighters were on the site Thursday morning, with a crime scene declared. Reid and Hubert Streets remain closed.

“It went up so quick … it’s heartbreaking,” Callum Rogers, owner of next door ski shop and travel agent Snowscape, told Brisbane Times.

“We kind of saw a little bit of smoke coming out of the original building just after 4pm. I called [triple zero] about 4.30pm.

“Within five-to-10 minutes … all the glass was popping and the side of the building was up in flames.

Callum Rogers from Snowscape, next to the abandoned Chalk Hotel.Credit: William Davis

“We were inside, and went like ‘wow, what was that?’ because when there’s any noises from Chalk we always go check to see if someone’s hanging around.”

He does not recall seeing anything unusual before the fire, but reports there has been a long-term problem with squatters in the main hotel and other nearby structures.

“We do have issues with empty spaces around here in general,” Rogers said.

“Unfortunately with Chalk there have been issues in the past. There’s been calls made [to police].”

Fire from the Chalk Hotel carpark on Wednesday. Credit: William Davis

Greens MP for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon was at the scene on Thursday, and blamed the cost of housing for driving Queenslanders to live in abandoned buildings.

“We’ve heard stories from all over the neighbourhood about people who are squatting, and this is really a function of the housing crisis,” she said.

“The fact that people don’t have safe, affordable places to live means that people are going to be forced into very unsafe situations, and that might be the case here.”

Chalk Hotel carpark reveals extent of fire. Credit: William Davis

The destroyed buildings are in the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area, which the state government has set aside for a sweeping urban renewal project.

While developers have already lodged plans for residential towers, restaurants and shops in the area, the government’s decision not to rebuild the Gabba for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has put a cloud over the area.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said one man suffered burns to his airway and smoke inhalation. He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

The Lussh weddings and events venue in Woolloongabba. Credit: William Davis

The heritage-listed Georgian Revival hall used by The Lussh for weddings and events was among the buildings impacted.

“We have a back-up and are busily pulling things together behind the scenes,” venue management posted on Instagram.

“While this isn’t anything any of us could have ever predicted, our years in the events industry have prepared us to handle just about anything.”