Man charged over Elphinstone Street, Berserker unit fire and police investigating Central Lane, Gladstone fire

A man has been charged after allegedly setting fire to a unit in a complex in North Rockhampton on Sunday night. A second unrelated house fire has also been reported in Gladstone overnight and is under investigation. Full details.

A man has been charged after allegedly setting fire to a unit in a North Rockhampton complex on Sunday night.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Elphinstone Street, Berserker, about 10.30pm.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said “half of the building was well alight”.

The spokeswoman said four fire crews were on scene working to contain the fire, along with Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Police Service.

According to police, one of the units in the complex was significantly damaged by the fire and several neighbouring units were damaged by smoke.

A police dog unit tracked a man to nearby Rigarlsford Park about 11.30pm.

A QPS spokeswoman said a 30-year-old Berserker man was charged with one count of arson (domestic violence) and four counts of wilful damage and was due to appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday.

According to QAS, a man in his 40s was transported to Rockhampton Hospital in a stable condition with smoke inhalation and a woman declined transport to hospital.

Rigarlsford Park, Rockhampton. Picture: Aden Stokes

An unrelated house fire was also reported in Gladstone overnight and is currently under investigation.

The fire on Central Lane, Gladstone Central, was reported to emergency services just before 2am on Monday.

The QFES spokeswoman said the two-storey “weatherboard house” was “well involved” and that three fire crews were on scene and worked to contain the fire and protect surrounding structures.

The spokeswoman said all persons were out of the house.

According to QAS, one person was assessed, however, declined transport to hospital.

The QPS spokeswoman said the house fire was under investigation and that a crime scene had been established.

The spokeswoman said the house was believed to have been abandoned.