Crime scene declared at Winfield home after sheds engulfed by fire

Police declared a crime scene at the site of a powerful fire suspected of being deliberately lit. PHOTOS, VIDEO

Police are calling anyone with information on a horror blaze at Winfield on Thursday to contact them.

It comes as a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman told this publication that officers believed the blaze had been deliberate.

“Investigations remain ongoing, the fire is being treated as suspicious,” she said.

“Anyone with information should contact police.”

Firefighters were confronted the horror blaze on Thursday where a home and five sheds were well alight with explosions coming from the buildings.

The hot conditions resulted in four of the emergency workers being assessed for heat exhaustion.

The fires broke out at Duck Creek Road, Winfield, north of Bundaberg, just after 7pm on Thursday with both urban and rural firefighters scrambling to the scene.

“When we got there there was a habitable shed and five surrounding sheds that were fully involved in the fire,’’ a Queensland Fire and Emergency Service officer said.

There were 15 urban firefighters as well as rural crews battling the blazes.

Firefighters were confronted by a home and five sheds on fire on an isolated property at Winfield, north of Bundaberg, and explosions during a dramatic night which saw four of the emergency workers assessed for heat exhaustion.

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“There was significant damage to all of the structures, or a majority of the structures due to heat damage. They have structurally collapsed.”

Firefighters were unable to locate anyone at the residence but Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics remained on the scene well into the night to help assess and treat firefighters.

“We faced significant challenges with water supply due to the remoteness of the location. We basically had to set up a relay pumping system with our appliances out of a dam on the property which was at the bottom of a hill, which creates its own issues.”

Firefighters used water from a dam to help fight the blaze.

Another QFES official said firefighters used two swimming pools at the back of the property to pump out water.

The fires were fully put out by just after 9pm after initial work to contain the blaze before the full attack on the fire was launched. Fire crews remained on the scene until about 1am.

“We had four firefighters that were assessed by Queensland Ambulance with heat exhaustion but all of those guys have made a recovery, and will continue to carry out their duties.”

The Fire Investigation Unit have yet to confirm the cause of the blaze, and if the fire was intentionally lit.

Queensland is facing a day of scorching temperatures with an heatwave warning in place.

Brisbane and Ipswich is expected to face temperatures of 37 degrees while Bundaberg was a maximum forecast of 32.