Massive blaze tears through shopping centre south of Brisbane

The owners of one of the shops impacted by a suspicious fire south of Brisbane overnight, has revealed this is the second time fire has damaged the centre. Their comments come as a crime scene is established.

The fire at the Windaroo Shopping Centre. Picture: Nik Drake.

A crime scene has been established after a massive fire tore through a shopping centre south of Brisbane on Saturday night, gutting a chemist, bakery and barber shop.

Firefighters were called to the Windaroo shops on Carl Heck Bvd just after 10.30pm but were unable to save many of the shops.

At least seven fire crews were required to contain the blaze, with ambulance officers on the scene but no reports of any injuries.

Nearby residents watched in horror as the blaze lit up the night sky.

Fireys were still at the scene hours later dampening the site down and cordoning off the area.

Fire damaged shops at the Windaroo Village centre.

On Sunday morning, the area was still cordoned off by police, with investigations expected to be ongoing today.

It is the second fire in two years at the shops, which were also at the centre of a police chroming investigation in 2018.

Shocked residents heading to the shops to pick up Sunday papers said the centre had just undergone recent renovations.

owners of the newsagency said they were “devastated” to hear of the fire last night, and that it wasn’t the first time their store has been affected.

Anil Balia and his wife Meeta have owned the store for 2.5 years.

“I got a call saying the whole place is on fire,” he said.

“It’s just devastating. This is the second time it’s happened within two years.

“It’s just a mess. This shopping centre has been a mess.”

Locals gather in front of the fire-damaged shops at the Windaroo Village centre. Picture: Peter Wallis

He said he thinks it will be at least a month before they can begin trading again.

“We are right next to the store where the fire started,” he said.

“We are just hoping for the best. It’s just heartbreaking it’s happened again and again.

“It’s not doing any good for us health wise and stress. We are just recovering from the stress over the last couple of years and then this happened.”

A barber shop was among the businesses damaged in a fire. Picture: Peter Wallis

Windaroo resident John Karamitelios, who lives behind the shops, said fireys had worked hard to save nearby houses.

“We’re fine, thankfully the fireys stopped it before it could spread to the houses here,” he said.

“We got a little bit of sleep after it all.”

Fire has destroyed shops at Windaroo Village. Picture: Belinda Thompson

Another Windaroo resident Belinda Thompson said the fire had shocked the community.

Fire has destroyed shops at Windaroo Village. Picture: Belinda Thompson

Last night nearby residents were told to close windows as toxic fumes billowed across nearby streets.

Windaroo resident Rebecca Cannon said the loss of the shops would affect the community.

“There’s got to be some kind of backup system for these things,” she said on Facebook.

“My meds are on order and due in on Monday, maybe they’ll divert to another location.”

The fire at the Windaroo Shopping Centre. Picture: Nik Drake

Fireys, police and ambulance services were called to help out and the area around the corner of Beaudesert Beenleigh Rd and Carl Heck Boulevard at Windaroo has been cordoned off.

Firefighters at the scene.

Road closures are expected to remain in place and motorists have been asked to stay away from the site.

Fireys at the Windaroo shops.

Residents and those with respiratory conditions have also been asked to keep doors and windows closed.

It comes after detectives commenced an operation to investigate four suspicious house fires within a five kilometre radius of each other in North Brisbane over the past month.

The road reopened early Sunday

Queensland Police were unable to comment on exactly how the fires may have started due to investigative reasons, but said arson was the suspected cause.