Building fire at Capalaba closes Old Cleveland Road in both directions

Shocked and devastated business owners who have endured 18 months of Covid hell are counting the cost of a major fire that ripped through multiple businesses on Brisbane’s bayside.

At least ten businesses were heavily damaged and listed as “victims” by police in the fire that ran rampant throughout the shops along Old Cleveland Road.

Melin Vietnamese and Chinese, Elemental Connection, Calaba Hair Design, Chemist Warehouse, Tru-Brew, My Physio, QML Pathology, Workways, Redlands Medical Centre and the Colonic Clinic are all believed to have suffered major damage.

Other shops, including Wisdom in a Cup and Macwell Property are believed to be affected by smoke but did not suffer internal damage.

Twenty-three fire crews rushed to the blaze which broke out about 4.25am at Chemist Warehouse near the intersection of Finucane, Old Cleveland and Moreton Bay roads in Capalaba.

Fire

The large fire spread to two neighbouring businesses within the same building – a Vietnamese restaurant and a physio.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said the fire spread through the complex’s “connected roofing” to multiple shops.

He said that by 8.30am the fire had been extinguished but 11 crews remained on scene and were pulling down the ceiling to ensure there were no more hot spots.

Old Cleveland Road remains closed in both directions from the intersection of Moreton Bay Road to the intersection of Redland Bay Road.

A screenshot of a video capturing the fire as it raged in the early hours of the morning. Picture: Timothy Owen

Fire

The owner of the Vietnamese restaurant, Monica Chen, who has run the business for about 18 years, told media it was “really terrifying”.

“We never expected this to happen. I don’t know what to say. It’s really sad,” she said.

Motorists are advised to avoid the scene of a fire on Old Cleveland Rd, Capalaba. Diversions are in place at Moreton Bay Rd and Redland Bay Rd. https://t.co/OT25v3Kjaspic.twitter.com/BqszauMUt9

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) September 8, 2021

Multiple fire service crews are on scene at the structure, with smoke impacting a wide area.

Residents in Birkdale and Wellington Point, as well as Capalaba have been warned to close windows and doors and keep respiratory medications close by.

Police are warning motorists to avoid the area and drive to conditions with reports of poor visibility in the area due to the smoke.

Long delays are being experienced as city-bound traffic is diverted north along Old Cleveland Road East to Quarry Road in Birkdale or south down Windemere Road to Redland Bay Road.

Multiple fire crews at the scene of the fire on Old Cleveland Road in Capalaba. Picture: QAS

Inspector Laurie Shevland said fire crews and police were called to a strip of shops along Old Cleveland Rd that were “well alight” at 4am.

“The blaze appears to have engulfed a number of neighbouring premises,” he said.

Insp Shevland said police were unsure where the blaze first began.

“Police and fire investigators are on scene and commencing their investigations,” he said.

A crime scene has been declared along the back end of the shops on Loraine St and the entire complex is taped off.

Insp Shevland said the fire was being treated as suspicious until proven otherwise.

A fire at Capalaba has destroyed three businesses. Picture: Maddy Morwood

Small business owners stood along Loraine Street, embracing each other.

They were not allowed to entire the taped-off area to entire their shops.

Owner of the family-run cafe Wisdom in a Cup, Joanne Wildermoth, said she still didn’t know how badly her cafe had been affected.

She said that she opened the cafe right before the pandemic hit.

“This is the last thing we need after the hits of Covid,” she said.

“We only just opened in December 2019, so this is just another hit to the business.”

Small business owners stand along Loraine Street, embracing each other.

Ms Wildermoth said her business was “already hanging on by a thread.”

“I’ve been crying all morning,” she said.

Ms Wildermoth works with her daughter, aged 16, and said she was worried about the other small and family-owned businesses in the complex.

“We’re a really tight community, all of us.”

“I’m just worried about my friends.”

Rebekah Rand works at Macwell Property, a family-owned small real estate business.

“It’s really sad because it’s a lot of small business owners,” she said.

“Macwell Property is just run by a mum and a dad.”

Melin Vietnamese and Chines Restaurant appeared to have suffered the worst of the flames.

Ms Rand said she “really felt” for the owners.

“They are the most beautiful people,” she said.

Kyra and Joanne Wildermoth from cafe Wisdom in a Cup on the scene. Pics Tara Croser.

Owner of Elemental Connection, a crystal and healing shop, Diane Leckie, choked back tears talking about her “baby” that appears to have burnt down.

“We can’t get in there, but they said that it’s not pretty,” she said.

“It’s my baby, so there’s been a lot of tears.”

Ms Leckie owned the shop, which she called a “safe place” for many, for six years.

Twenty-three Fire and Rescue Service crews were on the scene. Pics Tara Croser.

“The tears are because it’s a lot of hard work.”

“But it’s okay, because no one was hurt and I have a home and a bed to go home to tonight.”

The small business owner said it was “really bad timing” for many who had just gotten back on their feet after the impact of the pandemic.

“It’s just really, really, bad timing for all of us.”

“But we’ll band together, and it will be fine.”

The aftermath of the fire outside Diane Leckie’s shop.