Mackay’s Greenfields blaze 2012: 10 year anniversary

Toxic black smoke was seen billowing from a building in a Mackay shopping complex as an aggressive fire ripped through three businesses. Ten years on, no one has ever been held criminally responsible. VIDEO

No one has ever been held responsible for the devastating fire that ripped through three businesses at Greenfields shopping complex including destroying one of Mackay’s only toy stores.

Smoke was seen billowing from tens of kilometres away as the ferocious blaze took hold inside Toys R Us, spreading to Autobarn and Clark Rubber just before noon on November 10, 2012, levelling the three stores.

The damage bill was in the multi-millions, while hundreds of jobs were in jeopardy weeks before Christmas.

And 10 years later, the culprits who deliberately sparked the light in one of the aisles of the toy store have never been held accountable.

‘It was stacked against us’

The blaze, considered one of the biggest industrial fires in the region, sparked community-wide outrage and national media attention – particularly after it was revealed two boys, aged 13 and 11, had been arrested and charged with arson.

It was a miracle no one was injured.

A fire gutted three businesses at Greenfields shopping complex on November 10, 2012. Picture: Tony Martin

Shoppers inside Toys R Us had alerted staff to the fire and the store was evacuated within seconds.

Nearby businesses also had to be evacuated because of the toxic smoke – police even closed parts of the Bruce Highway, Mackay-Bucasia Rd and Malcomson St until late afternoon.

Fire crews were there within minutes but it was too late to save the three businesses from the inferno.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services’ Stephen DePinto in recalling that day said, “the magnitude of the products that were in the building, the way they were stacked, it was stacked against us”.

Firefighters stopped the blaze from spilling over a fire-rated wall saving half of the entire building. Picture: Tony Martin

It was the perfect environment for the flames to spread quickly.

He was Mackay’s zone commander at the time and the incident controller on that day.

“The fire load in Toys R Us was that immense there was no way we could put the fire out,” the School of Fire and Emergency Services Training acting chief superintendent said.

Fire crews could not save Toys R Us, Clark Rubber or Autobarn, which were completed destroyed. Picture: Tony Martin

“We had to reposition our branch lines and change our tactics because we knew that we couldn’t save (that) part of the shop.”

Adjoining building Sam’s Warehouse was “completely untouched by fire” acting chief superintendent DePinto said, adding a fire-rated wall separated it from the other businesses.

“So we took defensive action and we used our aerial appliance and trained the monitor through the window so that we could specifically protect the fire-rated wall.

The fire was started in an aisle inside the toy store and quickly spread. Picture: Tony Martin

“We also used other ground monitors and … then moved into the unburnt section and used positive pressure ventilation to keep any of the hot gases and smoke from spilling (into that) section of the building.”

Forty firefighters battled the aggressive blaze to save more than half of the building.

“It is actually an amazing accomplishment,” acting chief superintendent DePinto said.

He said he later spoke to an insurance assessor who had told him the fire-rated wall was “only designed to last a short period of time to get any occupants out of the building”.

Multiple surrounding business were evacuated and police even closed parts of the Bruce Highway, Mackay Bucasia Rd and Malcomson St. Picture: Tony Martin

“He was surprised that we were able to maintain the integrity of that wall,” he said.

Fire crews had the blaze under control just after 2pm but it continued to smoulder for days.

Other factors to be taken into consideration were water run-off and having tests to ensure it wasn’t going into waterways, and understanding where the black smoke was going.

“(We) had scientific advisers giving us info so we could manage those aspects of it as well,” acting chief superintendent DePinto said.

Little remained of Clark Rubber, Toys R Us and Autobarn Mackay after a devastating fire. Picture: Lee Constable

Two boys charged

Media was blocked multiple times from sitting in as the elder boy’s case was mentioned in Mackay Children’s Court.

Until, that was, the committal hearing when Magistrate Damien Dwyer allowed journalists to report on the evidence of two adults as the matters against the 13 year old went to Childrens Court of Queensland.

He pleaded not guilty to arson in 2014 and over two days about 10 witnesses gave evidence in a judge-only trial including two juvenile girls who alleged they were with the teen when the fire was lit.

On day three Judge Michael Shanahan said the evidence against the child was circumstantial before ruling an acquittal.

The younger boy, who had also been charged with arson over the fire, had his matter referred to the Mental Health Court.