Body of Mark Gallagher found day after home gutted in fire

Devastating new details about fire which destroyed a Queenslander home where the owner and his two dogs were found dead have been revealed as detectives call for help from the public.

A 59-year-old man died in a fire at a two-storey home on Grant St in West Mackay on August 19. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A man who perished inside an East Mackay home after an intense fire ripped through the two-storey Queenslander had “no hope” of surviving.

Mackay detectives are investigating the cause of the blaze that claimed the life of the homeowner Mark Gallagher and his two dogs.

The 59-year-old had lived at the property for more than two decades before it was gutted by flames in the evening on August 19.

Police have revealed some of his movements in the lead up to his death as they call for information from anyone who had spoken or seen him that day or had witnessed the fire.

The Souths Leagues Club employee had finished work about 8.30 that morning and police say the fire broke out about 6.30pm.

“We’re seeking info from member of the public who may have had interaction with Mr Gallagher or who knew of his movements in that period of time,” Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Eaton said on Wednesday.

The body of Mark Gallagher, 59, and his two dogs were found dead inside his East Mackay home the day after the property was gutter by a horror fire. Picture: Janessa Ekert

“We’ve been able to trace him movement up until 9.30 that morning when he was sighted at a local IGA supermarket on Bridge Rd.”

Neighbours rang triple-0 after spotting flames coming from the building, while one even tried to douse the fire with a garden hose.

Multiple emergency services including up to five fire crews were on scene trying to get the flames under control.

The body of Mark Gallagher, 59, was found in the ruins of a two-storey home gutted by fire on August 19.

The blaze had engulfed the home by the time the crews had arrived and neighbours said the fire had spread to encroaching trees and was threatening nearby power lines.

“It was very obvious that there was no hope for any person that may have been trapped inside and … our worst fears were confirmed the following day,” Senior Sergeant Eaton said.

A subsequent search at the scene the following day uncovered Mr Gallagher’s body, who was the sole occupant of the house, and those of his two dogs inside the home.

Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Eaton. Picture: Janessa Ekert

“Police are investigating the cause of the fire and the death of Mr Gallagher,” Senior Sergeant Eaton said.

“We’re still waiting for the results of our full forensic examination but at this stage we believe that the fire has occurred somewhere centrally in the premises.

“It’s an old Queenslander-style house, so when those particular buildings are destroyed by fire it’s quite difficult to establish it does take some time for our forensic people.”

A post-mortem will take place later this week.

Mackay fire Grant St

“The fire burnt very quickly,” Senior Sergeant Eaton said, adding it was sometime later before police scientific and fire investigators were able to enter the home.

“We had to make that particular premises safe … it wasn’t until late the following day that we located the body of Mr Gallagher.

“We had concerns because we weren’t able to contact Mr Gallagher … and it wasn’t until some 24-36 hours later that our worst fears were confirmed when we found his body.”

Mackay fire Grant St

Senior Sergeant Eaton said it took the best part of 24 hours to deem the home safe to enter and the officers had the process of going through the home “centimetre by centimetre”.

Police scientific officers conducted a two-day forensic search while the home remained under police guard.

One neighbour who arrived home after the fire had spread said “once it had started, I don’t think there was any stopping it”.

Mackay fire Grant St

“There was lots and lots of heat in the street,” the neighbour said.

“It was pretty intense to see.

“Someone tried helping at the beginning with a garden hose.”

Another neighbour said nothing had been heard that day in the lead up to the fire.

“No one heard anything,” the neighbour said.

“He was a very quiet guy.”

Police are calling for information from members of the public who witnessed the fire, or who may have seen or talked to Mark earlier in the day on Saturday, to call Policelink.