Fire at Buderim Comfy Cottages, Tanawha Tourist Drive, Tanawha
A witness has described the terrifying moment she realised cabins were ablaze as ‘traumatised’ residents surveyed the horrific scene in daylight.
Emergency Services
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A witness has described hearing three loud bangs, explosions and screaming, thinking a bomb had gone off after a fire erupted near a service station – with reports a young boy saved his little sisters from the cabin fire.
Emergency crews were on scene at the horrific fire for hours at a cabin facility near the Liberty Service Station at Tanawha, near Buderim, on the Sunshine Coast, Monday night.
About 10.25pm, police responded to reports of a structure fire at Buderim Comfy Cottages on Tanawha Drive.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said three cabins were destroyed by the fire.
“Investigations into the cause are ongoing,” he said.
“Anyone with information that may assist police in their investigation is urged to get in touch.”
Troy Freeman and his three children were inside one of the cabins that erupted into flames.
He said on social media that they lost everything.
“In a matter of 10 (minutes) you lose everything you own and are left with nothing but the shirt on your back.
“Thanks to our son for acting fast and getting his two little sisters out.
“Even though we have only what we are wearing at least we are all safe.”
On scene Tuesday morning, staff at Buderim Comfy Cottages declined to comment asking media to leave.
Residents walking around the entrance said they were “traumatised”.
A witness who rented a one-bedroom cabin at Buderim Comfy Cottages, Amanda Jade Seidel, said she was watching television when she heard a “big bang”.
“Then I heard voices so I turned it down,” she said.
“Then I heard screaming and three more big bangs.
“I didn’t know if it was gunshots or bombs or what was happening.
“I ran out the back of the block and there was fire and smoke and people running around and screaming. It was scary like something from a war movie.”
Ms Seidel said she started calling out asking everyone what was going on.
“People were banging on doors trying to get everyone out,” she said.
“Someone opened a hole in the fence and we ran out of there into the neighbouring property first.
“But the people living there kept saying ‘you’re safe now get off my property’ but there were still flames and a big mushroom of smoke.”
‘GAS TANKS EVERYWHERE NEAR THE SERVO’
Ms Seidel said through the chaos she saw people ripping the gas bottles away too.
“There were gas tanks everywhere near the servo and all of the cabins had gas bottles for hot water,” she said.
“We came back in but they wouldn’t let us go back to our cabins. I have two cats so I went and opened my door for them and grabbed my phone then ran out the front to the road with everyone else.
“We were all out there for four or so hours. People just laying on the road.”
Ms Seidel said one cabin was fully destroyed and two other were badly damaged.
“One of them was being rented by a family … there were little kids in there. Thank god they got out safely,” she said.
“It was so scary. So frightening. I’ve never been through anything like that before.
“They took the couple and their kids and set them up somewhere for the night I was told.
“The manager of the place got here very quickly. I respect him for that.”
The shaken up witness said residents were allowed back into their cabins after 2.30am but there was still no power, no water, and smoke everywhere.
A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said they were called to the fire at 10.20pm.
She said five crews and a senior officer attended.
“The fire was under control by 11.45pm with no one reported missing,” she said.
The QFD spokesman said a public safety declaration was in place from police but revoked by 2.30am.
She said fire investigators and police would be on scene later this morning.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said crews were on scene until 2.45am.
She said they rushed an emergency services member to Nambour Hospital for “precautionary measures” but there were otherwise no injuries.
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