‘Purely accidental’: Home of anti-lockdown therapist devastated by fire

The husband of anti-lockdown activist Daniela Milos has spoken about the massive fire that gutted their home in inner Brisbane this morning, describing the inferno as ‘purely accidental’.

The husband of anti-lockdown activist Daniela Milos doesn’t believe their historic Brisbane home was targeted in a devastating fire which he described as “purely accidental”.

A piece of Brisbane’s history went up in flames on Sunday morning when the fire broke out at the Milos family’s Newstead home which sits next to the Shell service station on Breakfast Creek Rd.

Angelo Milos told The Courier-Mail they weren’t at their double-storey Queenslander when it caught alight just after 11am.

“We got a phone call from the neighbour telling us to rush back and we came back,” Mr Milos said.

“Luckily enough they got the dogs out and we came back and the fire brigade was there doing their thing and the police were there and that’s basically it.”

House Fire Breakfast Creek Rd. Photo: Jacki Drinnen

Nine fire crews and an ambulance arrived to the last remaining residential house on the road to find it already well involved. Firefighters battled the massive flame that witnesses described as “up around the roof” and “crazy”.

The fire forced the evacuation of a petrol station next door, but no one was treated for injuries.

Mr Milos said some parts of the house still seemed to be intact including the downstairs area facing Breakfast Creek Rd.

He said the family was “of course” shaken and it appeared they had lost sentimental possessions.

The fire is another blow for Mrs Milos who has been outspoken about the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on her beauty salon Vanity House.

She made headlines on July 1 when dozens of police have swooped on the inner Brisbane parlour after she allegedly threatened to defy lockdown restrictions by opening her salon.

No charges were laid nor fines issued.

Mr Milos said he had his own business which had been unaffected by restrictions.

“My wife struggled but I’m fine, my business is fine,” he said.

He didn’t believe the fire was a targeted attack in relation to his wife’s anti-lockdown views.

Daniela Milos, owner of Vanity House at Newstead, after being warned by police during Covid lockdown in New Farm Park. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“I think it’s purely accidental,” Mr Milos said. Built in 1919, the home was formally the Newstead Police Station from 1926 until 1995 and valued in June last year for $1 million.

Jacki Drinnen, who lives on nearby Evelyn St, said she originally thought the petrol station next to the house had gone up in flames.

“The flames were so forceful I felt the heat from across the street,” she said.

“The black smoke was crazy and the flames were up around the roof.”Firefighters worked to extinguish the large flames, which broke through all front panel windows of the house. Another resident, who didn’t want to be named, said the firefighters had been working “tirelessly” for quite some time.

Mr Milos said the coupe and their two young children were staying with family on Sunday night.

“Then we’ll just wait and see what we can organise for ourselves tomorrow,” he said.

“I don’t see it being that easy to find somewhere to say but anyway, we’re good for now.”

Relative Jade Milos posted to social media saying the family had nothing left but the clothes on their backs.

“They have two young boys under three and need any donations possible,” she said.

Fire investigators moved in about 4pm on Sunday but a cause is yet to be determined.