Emergency services respond to house fire in Wowan

Neighbours who tried to save a house that reportedly caught fire after being struck by lightning in Central Queensland were taken to hospital after receiving an electric shock from a metal railing. In a night of wild weather, a landslide has also been confirmed.

Neighbours who tried to save a house that reportedly caught fire after being struck by lightning in Wowan, west of Gladstone, on Monday night were taken to hospital after receiving an electric shock from a metal railing.

It was a night of wild weather across Central Queensland, with heavy rain in the Mount Morgan area also causing a landslide on the Burnett Highway.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads advised Tuesday morning that the Burnett Highway was closed to all traffic between Leydens Hill Road and Poison Creek Road due to a landslide.

Emergency services were called to the house fire on Pocket Creek Road at 8.12pm.

According to a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman, four crews attended and noted the house was “well involved in fire” on arrival.

The spokeswoman said crews were dampening down hot spots by 10.05pm.

She said the owner of the home wasn’t there at the time.

According to Queensland Ambulance Service, a man in his 60s and a man in his 30s were transported to Mount Morgan Hospital in stable conditions after receiving an electric shock when they came into contact with a metal railing.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the two men were believed to be neighbours.

The spokesman also said police were not treating the fire as suspicious and that the house was believed to have been struck by lightning.

A fire investigation team will be attending the scene later on Tuesday.