Massive blaze engulfs Burpengary storage shed business

Homeless people are among those who lost possessions after a fire destroyed more than 180 storage units at a business north of Brisbane on Wednesday night.

Police have declared a crime scene following a significant storage shed fire at Burpengary, with a number of homeless people among those who’ve lost possessions.

Fire crews were called to the Storage King Burpengary facility on Old Gympie Rd about 6pm on Wednesday, with the huge fire clearly visible from the nearby Bruce Highway.

Firefighters say more than 180 units – about a third of the facility – were destroyed in the massive blaze.

A crime scene was declared at 1.30pm Thursday.

The fire was clearly visible from the adjacent Bruce Highway. Picture: Facebook/Russell Young

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said it was a significant fire, with a large part of the building impacted by flames.

Burpengary Area Commander Leon Andrews said about a third of all storage units had been damaged.

“We believe it is about 188 units, approximately a third of the units in the facility had been consumed by fire,” he said.

Authorities are investigating whether lithium-ion-batteries were involved.

“In these containers, we don’t know what people put in them or store in them, so that could be accelerant, there could be fuel, there could be batteries, there could be anything,” Mr Andrews said.

“At the moment, it’s too early to speculate.”

Mr Andrews said firefighters from a nearby station had been on the scene very quickly.

QFD Area Commander Leon Andrews. Picture: Richard Walker

“Their fast action certainly saved it from taking over the whole place, they actually saved a lot of the facility from that,” he said.

“Firefighters have done an absolutely fantastic job pulling it up where they did.”

Mr Andrews said it would be some time before the building was deemed safe.

“We’ll be getting engineers in to say whether or not it’s safe to be able to go in there,” he said. “It may be late this evening or may be sometime tomorrow.”

‘MY WHOLE LIFE’: FAMILIES LOSE EVERYTHING

Irene Schynol, who has been homeless for four years in Caboolture, said she had lost “everything” in the fire.

“My whole life is basically in there,” she said.

Irene Schynol said she had lost "everything", including photos of her deceased daughter. Picture: Iwan Jones

“I’ve had my stuff here for four years since I’ve become homeless and I’m so close to finding a place. I was really happy and now it looks like everything is going to be gone.”

“I’m feeling a bit of shock and feeling devastated.”

While Ms Schynol will eventually be able to replace her household possessions, she said “there are some things you can’t replace”.

Kerrie Thomsen had kept possessions at the facility for two years. Picture: Richard Walker

“All my clothing and bedding is in there, I bought a new freezer just before I became homeless, but that can be replaced,” she said.

“There are some things you can’t replace.

“I had all my writings in there and photos of my daughter who has passed away.”

Another customer Kerrie Thomsen had kept belongings at the storage facility for almost two years due to living in shared accommodation.

Firefighters still on the scene at a storage shed fire at Burpengary.

“I had all my household effects, furniture, electrical goods, linen, kids, toys, photos, certificates, you name it,” she said.

“I am feeling gutted, it could possibly be all gone.”

Firefighters on the scene at the morning after the fire. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Thomsen was on the verge of tears when reflecting on keepsakes from her children and an overseas holiday that may have been destroyed in the fire.

“You can’t replace photos and memories, you just can’t,” she said.

The Abraham family lost all their possessions in the fire at Storage King Burpengary. Picture: Richard Walker

The Abraham family have kept all their belongings in a unit at the facility since becoming homeless in January.

Norah Abraham said five suitcases of possession were all that were left.

“Everything we own is in there, literally everything you can think of is in there, except for a suitcase each,” she said.

“Our whole life is in there. I am absolutely devastated.”

Ms Abraham said it was another blow for a family struggling to find somewhere to live.

Firefighters at the scene after Wednesday night’s massive blaze. Picture: Richard Walker

“We are still trying to find a house, we just can’t get one at the moment,” she said.

“We are in emergency accommodation but they keep on moving us every week or two.

“It is rough for the kids who go to school here.”

She said there were some belongings that could not be replaced.

“It’s all the memories of my dad, there’s photos I can’t get because he was the last one in his family,” she said.

“When he died he was given an Australian flag and a leather-bound item with all his service record and everything in it. That’s all gone.”

Mr Abraham said he was feeling shattered for his family.

“It’s everything we own, we’ve got nothing now.”

Damage at the Storage King facility at Burpengary in the wake of a massive fire. Picture: Richard Walker

John Anderson and his family spent just under $17,000 in fees storing their possessions as they travelled around the country for the past few years.

“We’ve been travelling in the caravan for six years and basically we’ve just come back,” he said.

“We believed that our belongings would have been safe being here.

“You can replace the fridge, you can replace the TV, but you can’t replace the kids’ photographs.

“It’s difficult, but we’ve got each other, the family, and that’s the most important thing in life.”

In a statement, a Storage King spokeswoman said the company was assisting authorities as they investigate the cause of the fire.

The spokeswoman added that they are also working with the independent licensee, who operates the Burpengary Storage King warehouse, to find out the extent of the damage and to assist customers.

“The Burpengary Storage King is owned and operated by an independent licensee, and we are awaiting an updated situation report from them about the emergency services’ assessment of damage, safety report and access to the site,” the spokeswoman said.

A dedicated hotline has been established for impacted customers on 1800 299 503.

Storage King Burpengary offers individual storage units ranging from a 1sq m locker through to double garages from 26sq m to 44sq m.

An ambulance spokesman said two people were assessed by paramedics, with one taken to hospital in stable condition with smoke inhalation.

The storage facility ablaze at Burpengary. Picture: Facebook/Kellie Ann