Police reveal details about arsonist attack on derelict vehicles
Cairns police have released details about how an alleged arsonist gained entry to a Department of Transport and Main Roads compound before setting a fire that destroyed 18 derelict cars.
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UPDATE THURSDAY: Cairns police have released details about how an alleged arsonist gained entry to a Department of Transport and Main Roads compound before setting a fire that destroyed 18 derelict cars.
At 7.30pm on Tuesday firefighters were called to the bottom of the Kuranda range road after a depot holding unclaimed cars, towed from the roadway by TMR, erupted in flames.
Detective inspector Kevin Goan said the cause of the fire was still under investigation and it had not yet been determined what was used to start the blaze.
“Certainly there was many more cars that could have been affected save for the quick response of Queensland Fire and Rescue who extinguished the flames quite readily, “he said.
“We think it’s an isolated incident in terms of an act of arson. We’re just simply looking for either one person or one group of persons that were there at that time.
“My understanding is that the compound has a couple of vulnerabilities which are easily exploited. And that features as part of our investigations.
“We can’t say whether (wire mesh) was specifically cut for this purpose, but there were vulnerabilities.”
Insp Goan indicated holes in the wire fence had been detected.
Police have appealed to witnesses with dashcam footage to come forward and assist with the investigation.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 5.00PM: RoadTek has partnered with the Queensland Police in their investigations of the abandoned vehicle blaze that occurred Tuesday night at Kuranda Range Road.
The damaged vehicles were held in the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) compound next to the RoadTek maintenance depot at Smithfield.
A TMR spokesman has confirmed that it now looks like about 18 vehicles were affected.
To further inquiries into the causation, CCTV footage has now been made available as a
TMR spokesman confirmed that RoadTek’s project co-ordination reported to inspect the site and wider depot area.
“Crews conducted a visual inspection today to identify any issues or potential damage,” the spokesman said.
“There was no damage to any site structures, apart from some melting of conduit close by.”
EARLIER UPDATE WEDNESDAY 1.15PM: POLICE have confirmed a fire which set multiple cars alight and closed the Kuranda Range on Tuesday is being treated as suspicious.
Police and emergency services were called to large fire at a compound on the Kennedy Highway about 7.30pm on Tuesday.
Approximately 12 seized abandoned vehicles were destroyed in the large blaze which resulted in the Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range) being closed for over an hour to allow emergency services to access the site.
No structural damage was caused to buildings at the location. Detectives have commenced an investigation and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444.
The site will be forensically examined today.
TUESDAY: FIREFIGHTERS and police are at the scene of a massive vehicle blaze which has forced the closure of a major Far North route.
Multiple cars were alight when emergency services were called out just before 7.30pm on Tuesday, forcing the temporary closure of Kuranda Range Rd.
Queues of vehicles were stuck on the highway all the way back to Kuranda at 9pm.
A Queensland Police spokesman has said the fire was located at the bottom of the range road near Canopy’s Edge Bvd and Cumberland Ave in Smithfield. The blaze appeared to be at the RoadTek North Smithfield depot at the base of the Kennedy Highway.
Queensland Police said the cause of the fire was being investigated but it was still “too early to say.”
“The priority is to get the range open with no obstructions to the road,” the spokesman said.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said that the damaged cars were located at the depot with no casualties reported.
Motorists were being advised to avoid the area as all lanes are currently blocked from both directions.
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