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Fireys unable to determine cause of mammoth Woolloongabba fire

The cause of a mammoth fire which left a man fighting for life and destroyed a luxury wedding venue and two other buildings in inner city Brisbane this week remains a mystery.

Huge fire tears through heritage-listed Brisbane buildings

The cause of a mammoth fire which destroyed a luxury wedding venue and two other buildings in Woolloongabba this week will remain a mystery.

Fire investigators searched the remains of the three buildings on Hubert St on Friday, but due to the significant damage they have been unable to determine how the fire started.

The fire began in an abandoned building about 4.20pm on Wednesday and quickly spread to two other buildings, including a 99-year-old heritage building renovated into a luxury wedding venue, The Lussh.

But fire crews couldn’t save the buildings, and the blaze reduced the stunning double-storey brick warehouse to a pile of charred rubble.

Police and fire investigators picture at the scene of a fire in Woolloongabba on Wednesday. Picture Lyndon Mechielsen
Police and fire investigators picture at the scene of a fire in Woolloongabba on Wednesday. Picture Lyndon Mechielsen

One person inside the abandoned building was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with serious burns to their airways.

Desperate couples were also left scrambling for a new venue just days out from their weddings, including couple Madison Sullivan and Nathan Crawford.

Bride to be Madison Sullivan was looking forward her wedding at The Lussh. Picture Instagram
Bride to be Madison Sullivan was looking forward her wedding at The Lussh. Picture Instagram

The couple were meant to be married at The Lussh on October 26 surrounded by 105 of their family and friends.

Ms Sullivan had envisioned herself walking down the aisle at The Lussh, but said they were trying to stay optimistic.

“It doesn’t change the ultimate goal – we just want to be married. That is what we try to remind ourselves,” she said.

Multiple fire units spray water on buildings on fire in Hubert St, Gabba – on Wednesday 25th of September – Photo Steve Pohlner
Multiple fire units spray water on buildings on fire in Hubert St, Gabba – on Wednesday 25th of September – Photo Steve Pohlner

Another bride, Maddi Worner, was meant to get married at The Lussh on Friday and posted a Tik Tok sharing the devastating news.

“So it’s the day before my wedding, and I wonder how many brides can say they spent it looking for wedding venues because theirs burnt down two days before their wedding,” she posted.

Initially, fire crews believed a second person may have been unaccounted for inside the abandoned building, but a search on Friday determined no one else was inside.

A man has been rushed to hospital with life threatening injuries after an inner city building became engulfed in flames. Picture: 9NEWS
A man has been rushed to hospital with life threatening injuries after an inner city building became engulfed in flames. Picture: 9NEWS

Fire crews believed the fire was accelerated by multiple mattresses inside the abandoned building, which was a known location where people slept rough.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said the sites had been handed back to the owners and its investigations were now complete.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fireys-unable-to-determine-cause-of-mammoth-woolloongabba-fire/news-story/b0459797e39239a850cbddcb0283668e