Eileen Brown tells of shock Edington St house fire evacuation

An elderly Central Queensland woman was watching TV, completely oblivious to a ferocious fire next door when she heard a knock and a neighbour telling her she had to “get out”. PHOTOS, VIDEOS.

North Rockhampton resident Eileen Brown has spoken about her shock evacuation late Thursday as a raging house fire next door threatened her life and home.

The Edington Street resident of nine years was watching TV, completely oblivious to the large blaze that had erupted just before 5pm – threatening neighbouring properties either side.

“I hadn’t heard it (fire) and I didn’t know until someone (a resident of the street) knocked on my door and told me to get out,” Ms Brown said.

Eileen Brown at her Edington Street rental home.

The only thing Ms Brown, who suffers from high blood pressure, grabbed on her way out was her phone.

“I come out and I took some photos and then I ended up over there and my dog was shivering like anything and I had a panic attack.

“And I ended up being taken to hospital so I don’t know what happened (with the fire) after that.”

The scene of the Edington St fire late on Thursday afternoon (August 10). Photo Darryn Nufer.

What happened was the house next door to Ms Brown, where the fire started, was completely destroyed and the neighbouring unit complex to the other side also ignited, resulting in significant damage.

Fortunately for Ms Brown, her rental home escaped major damage but it did sustain numerous cracked glass windows, paint damage and some minor fire damage.

Fire crews at the Edington Street scene on Friday morning (August 11). Photo Darryn Nufer.

The large trees between Ms Brown’s home and the house next door were engulfed and their burnt remains showed just how lucky Ms Brown was to still have a roof over her head.

Ms Brown was released from hospital on Thursday night.

Edington Street resident Eileen Brown chats with a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services worker on Friday, August 11, 2023. Photo: Darryn Nufer.

On Friday morning, the destroyed home remained under police guard and firefighters were still monitoring hot spots and dampening down areas.

The fire-destroyed Edington Street home remained under police guard on Friday morning (August 11). Photo Darryn Nufer.

Ms Brown said the destroyed home was not permanently lived in but people would “come and go” from it “all of the time” as if they were squatting there.

Some people in the street on Friday said lobbying had been done for the past 12 months to get the house condemned and demolished.

Investigations into the fire are ongoing.