Rockhampton fire heroes speak out after Edington St blaze

In the wake of a terrifying unit fire in Rockhampton which left seven people homeless, stories of bravery and selflessness are emerging as the community reels from a horror week. NEW VIDEO.

A heroic rescue and touching gestures can be revealed after a terrifying blaze which started in an abandoned home, spread to neighbouring units and left seven people with nowhere to go.

In Rockhampton, where the community is also mourning the tragic deaths of slain mother Tayla Cox and her baby daughter Murphy, residents were forced to flee their Edington St homes on Thursday.

This publication previously reported Eileen Brown, an elderly North Rockhampton resident was watching television and was unaware of the blaze until a brave neighbour came to her aid.

Now, it can be revealed that neighbour was Andrew Skordas who was nearby at the time and noticed Ms Brown was still inside her home.

Andrew Skordas’ heroic actions saved the lives of Ms Brown and her beloved pooch.

“I was sitting out the front and I could smell smoke, which I noticed was coming from a nearby house,” said Mr Skordas said on Saturday.

“I ran down and noticed that the home next door was an older lady and her dog. I jumped her fence and bashed on her door and told her to get out immediately as there was a fire.

“After escorting her out of the house, I ran back in and grabbed her dog and told her if she had anything valuable or sentimental that I needed to know straight away, or it wouldn’t be saved.”

Eileen Brown at her Edington Street rental home.

Rockhampton woman Shelley Porteous and her son visited the homes and assisted former residents who had ‘nowhere else to go’.

“I was (at the units) after the fire, trying to help the residents get what they could salvage from the units,” Ms Porteous said.

“Three of the units were totally destroyed and they lost everything in their bedrooms … one woman was still in her clothes from Thursday.”

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

Ms Porteous’ son opened up his own home for the people to use, as they had no access to power or a toilet, and allowed them to store items in his yard.

“It’s so sad that no one offered them a place the night of the fire. They were under a time limit to get their belongings out before the area was fenced off.”

Police are still unclear as to what caused the blaze, with investigations continuing.

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