Today in Cairns: QFES put out house fire on Burke Close at Mount Sheridan
Police have attended a serious incident at an Edge Hill business this afternoon. Here’s what we know.
Cairns
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G’day Far Northerners, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening across the region this week, September 5 to September 9.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
‘I had to f*** this old bastard’: Sex worker’s alleged ‘drugged’ late night visit
‘Might be in trouble’: Man accused of rape says he was trying to help
Surprise release of prestige house blocks in pretty Cairns pocket
Woman killed after car rolls on FNQ road
TODAY’S NEWS
Edge Hill sudden death
Police and QAS units responded to a serious medical episode at a business address on Collins Ave in Edge Hill about 4.10pm today.
A Qld Police spokeswoman said police units responded to reports of a sudden death. Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.
“We’re not looking for anyone,” the spokeswoman said.
Mount Sheridan house fire
FIRE crews have extinguished a house fire on Bourke Cl at Mount Sheridan, saving the structure from major damage.
People inside the home were alerted to the fire by smoke alarms, a senior Cairns firefighter said.
“Smoke alarms alerted the residents of the fire (and) crews were on scene within ten minutes,” senior firefighter Tomas Neville said.
“Everyone was out of the house on our arrival.
“It was a small fire in the lounge room involving a couch. There’s significant smoke damage throughout the house.
“One of the residents had some minor burns and some smoke inhalation but they’ve been treated by Queensland ambulance.”
Sen-Firefighter Neville said the exact cause of the blaze was unknown but he said the incident was being treated as accidental at this stage.
Station Officer Tim Caswell, whose team had responded to two house fires in two days, said the introduction of new smoke alarm regulations had helped reduce the number of severe house fires but residents need to be more prepared.
“The number one thing is to have a plan. A plan is a discussion with other occupants in your household about what you’re going to do in case of emergency,” Station Officer Caswell said.
“You don’t want to be having that discussion when an emergency is occurring.
“Today, one person tried to fight the fire, which I don’t recommend. Just evacuate.”
One resident of the house, who requested not to be named, said he was alerted of the fire while at work and it was his partner who was injured.
“I’ve never been so scared,” he said.
“My hands were shaking on the wheel as I drove home.”
Property offenders arrested
A 20-year-old Edmonton man is facing 21 charges while a 17-year-old Parramatta Park girl is facing 14 charges in relation to offences allegedly committed around various places in FNQ.
The offences allegedly were committed in Cairns, Edmonton, Gordonvale, Mareeba, Edge Hill, Freshwater, Redlynch and Smithfield between August 22 and September 7.
The man allegedly entered a Gordonvale service station with another person on September 3. He allegedly threatened a 45-year-old employee stealing cash and cigarettes and left the scene in a car driven by the girl.
The man allegedly entered a Freshwater restaurant on Kamerunga road armed with knives with another person around 5pm on September 5.
They allegedly threatened staff and fleeing with a large amount of cash and cigarettes.
Police opposed the man’s bail and he will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.
He was charged with two counts each of armed robbery,
receiving tainted property and enter premise, three counts of burglary, four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, six counts of stealing and one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and fraud.
The girl’s bail was also opposed and she was charged with one count each of robbery, receiving tainted property and enter premise, two counts of burglary, four counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and five counts of stealing. She will appear in the Cairns Childrens Court.
Stealing and Fraud
A woman has been charged after she allegedly stole a prescription pad from Cairns Hospital and used it at two separate pharmacies.
The 52-year-old from Holloways Beach allegedly wrote scripts for Hydromorphone and attended two pharmacies where she was successful in obtaining medication from one on March 25.
On April 3 she allegedly used a script that she had written out and obtained more medication.
On Wednesday, she was charged with one count of stealing and two counts each of fraud and attempted fraud.
She will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on September 21.
WEDNESDAY’S NEWS
Kuranda Range crash
Paramedics have assessed two patients after a single vehicle rollover near the top of the Kuranda Range at the double overtaking lane.
Witnesses reported a ute with a trailer flipped on its side with debris on the road at the time of the crash.
A Queensland police spokeswoman said they received the call about 7.10am. She said there was a 23-year-old driver who lost control of the vehicle causing it to roll. He had a 23-year-old male passenger.
A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the two males were treated with minor injuries but declined transport.
Lanes were reduced for a couple of hours during peak hour traffic and motorists were advised to proceed with caution while the road was cleaned.
TUESDAY’S NEWS
Armed Robbery
A 15-year-old boy from Yarrabah has been charged with 10 offences after he allegedly entered a Gordonvale business armed with a tyre iron and a knife.
On September 3 about 9.40am he allegedly entered the George Street Service station with another person and threatened a 45-year-old employee before stealing cigarettes and cash.
They allegedly fled in a car that had been waiting for them.
The boy, allegedly also entered a Gurrumbah Link home at Smithfield on September 2 with some others and stole car keys and two cars parked in the driveway.
He also allegedly drove a car along Endeavour Road at Clifton Beach where he approached a 67-year-old woman and stole her handbag before fleeing in the car.
He was arrested on Tuesday at a Workshop Road home in Yarrabah and charged with two counts each of robbery, burglary and stealing, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of attempted enter dwelling.
His bail was opposed and he will appear in the Cairns Childrens Court.
MONDAY’S NEWS
Single vehicle crash, Edmonton
A vehicle has crashed into a tree as police have treated the incident as serious.
Emergency services were alerted to the crash at 5.30pm at Barney St and Farmer St.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said Farmer St has been closed to traffic as a forensic crash unit attend the scene.
#Edmonton - Paramedics responded to a single vehicle incident on Farmer Street at 5.30pm. Three patients were transported to Cairns Base Hospital, one in a serious condition and two in stable conditions.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) September 5, 2022
Queensland Ambulance Service have sent three crews to assess three patients who were all transported to Cairns Hospital — one in serious condition.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Charges over knife
A 26-year-old man from Cairns allegedly wearing a mask and carrying a knife around Cairns City over the weekend has been charged.
He allegedly walked along Spence Street around 9pm on Saturday carrying a knife and walked past the door of a service station and down the side of the building.
He was arrested on Plath Street and charged with one count of going armed to cause fear and will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday.
Driving under the influence
A 29-year-old man from Woree was charged after allegedly driving a car while he was intoxicated on Sunday morning around 3.30am around Grafton Street.
Police saw the car pull into a carpark after it allegedly drove past a nightclub without headlights on.
The driver allegedly returned a positive roadside result and was taken to the Cairns Police Station for more testing and returned a blood alcohol concentration of 0.174.
Burglary
A 35-year-old man from Earlville was arrested around 11.50pm on Saturday after he allegedly broke into a Mulgrave Road motel unit.
He allegedly gained entry to the unit when a woman was woken and started screaming, he fled allegedly stealing a wallet with cash and credit cards.
Police investigations linked the man to two other burglaries in 2019 and 2020 and another allegedly on August 29 when he gained entry into a Balaclava Road unit.
He was charged with three counts of burglary and one count each of attempted enter dwelling and enter premise and commit indictable offence. He will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today.
WEATHER
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a partly cloudy day in Cairns on Thursday.
Across the region on Thursday:
Cairns: Partly cloudy, 20C – 29C
Atherton: Partly cloudy, 14C – 25C
Cardwell: Partly cloudy, 19C – 26C
Cooktown: Mostly sunny, 22C – 29C
Innisfail: Partly cloudy, 18C – 27C
Mareeba: Mostly sunny, 17C – 28C
TRAFFIC
Cape Tribulation / Kimberley
Roadworks have been reported on Cape Tribulation Bloomfield Road at Cape Tribulation / Kimberley
Long delays are expected in both directions towards Wujal Wujal.
Coen / Laura
The Peninsula Developmental Road is subject to a 5 Tonne GVM limit from Laura to Coen due to water over the road.
Edmonton/Gordonvale
Roadworks are being carried out on the Bruce Highway — Cairns Southern Access Corridor — Stage 3: Edmonton to Gordonvale. Delays expected (during active hours of work), with all lanes in both directions affected. The work is expected to run until June 30, 2023.
Feluga
Major intersection upgrade at East Feluga Road and Bruce Hwy. Delays are expected to August 12, 2022.
Lake Eacham
Wrights Creek Road is closed to all traffic. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.
Ravenshoe
Roadworks have been reported at Grigg St, Ravenshoe and are expected to December 12, 2022.
Wrights Creek
Hill Road Closed permanently from the Bruce Highway to Harris Road to December 2024.
WHAT’S ON
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Picnic benches outside of Muddies
Public barbecues
Fitness equipment
Playgrounds including Muddy’s Playground and the Fun Ship Playground
Basketball and tennis courts
Bump tracks and BMX tracks (within parks)
The Esplanade Activity Precinct (skate plaza, bouldering park, beach volleyball courts, multipurpose court)
The Lagoon and Council-run swimming pools
Flecker Gardens
Arts and cultural venues including Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Tanks Arts Centre, the Courthouse gallery
Buy Back Shop
Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Barlow Park
Tobruk, Smithfield and Gordonvale pools
Marlin Coast Recreation Centre
Green Space Our Place
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Originally published as Today in Cairns: QFES put out house fire on Burke Close at Mount Sheridan
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