Man, 42, charged over Bundaberg home blaze

A 42-year-old man will face court charged with the alleged arson of a home in Bundaberg. He is also expected to face another charge.

Police have charged a 42-year-old man in relation to the alleged arson of a property at Walkervale on November 2.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Walker St in Bundaberg at around 6pm to reports of a house fire.

Investigations led police to locate a 42-year-old Walkervale man at Kepnock, where he was taken into custody.

The man has been charged with one count each of arson, attempted arson and contravention of a domestic violence order, and appeared before Bundaberg Magistrates Court on November 3.

Police said no one was physically injured during the fire.

Police were still on scene on Thursday.

Bundaberg CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Bishop spoke to media on Thursday morning and said emergency crews were alerted to the incident at 6pm.

Fire damage to the home can be seen. A strong smell of smoke lingered.

Further investigations led to the location of a man at another address who was charged with arson.

Police said the accused had been charged with arson and another count of attempted arson, as it is alleged he set a mattress alight at 11am prior to the main fire.

Police guard the home overnight.

Det Snr Sgt Bishop said the man had an interest in the house.

“It‘s just fortunate that no one was harmed and we’ve brought the incident to a resolution”.

He said the damage was repairable but would take some time.

Officers also confirmed the blaze was not related to a suspected arson at the Tom Quinn Community Centre which destroyed a shed and garden nursery.

The scene of the arson on Walker St, the day after the blaze was started. The mattress had allegedly been set alight earlier in the day, leading to a charge of attempted arson.

Earlier, crime scene guards were protecting the site of the house fire that tore through part of the home.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said police were protecting the scene as it was too dark to assess during the night in order to determine whether or not the blaze was suspicious.

Police and fire crews remained at the scene on Thursday.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Bundaberg Incident Controller Dean Hanmer said the blaze tore through part of the ground floor of the two-storey home.

Mr Hanmer said crews were able to get in and fight the blaze on the ground floor to help bring it under control.

He said half of the area had significant damage.

Ambulance crews also tended to the scene, but no one was injured in the fire.

The scene of the arson on Walker St, the day after the blaze was started.