Witnesses describe man as ‘mellow’ as his home engulfs in flames

Neighbours woke to a thick fog of smoke outside, rattling sounds and warmth radiating inside their homes as the early morning fire gutted a nearby house.

A 46-year-old male resident is assisting police with investigations into the “suspicious” fire. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Neighbours have told Border Post of their panic as they watched a Wallangarra home go up in flames in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with many desperate to confirm that no one was trapped inside.

A police spokeswoman said that officers were not searching for any suspects, with the 46-year-old male resident continuing to assist police with investigations into the “suspicious” fire.

Fire destroyed the home on Tuesday morning. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

A female neighbour, who asked not to be named, said the 46-year-old resident told her “he tried to light a fire in the fireplace inside and that it caught alight”.

“It wasn’t like he was upset or a nervous wreck he was just pretty mellow,” the woman said.

House fire at Wallangarra with police declaring it as "suspicious". Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

The woman said she called triple-0 after noticing smoke coming out of the roof and “banging” sounds from inside her neighbour’s home.

“The inside of my home on the walls was really warm, I could feel the heat,” she said.

Neighbours Dominic and Maria Galea described the fire as a “sunrise” with the bright orange and yellow glow outside their bedroom window.

Smoke coming from inside the home from the fire. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Mrs Galea said she was concerned someone was still trapped inside and heard people yelling, “did everybody get out?”.

“I heard rattling coming from the home and there was also crackling,” she said.

Neighbours heard banging, rattling and crackling sounds coming from the house as it engulfed in flames. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post

Neighbour Annette Sharman said she was alerted to the fire by her dogs and went outside to find the “whole street there”.

“The home was basically completely destroyed with flare outs continuing for some time,” Ms Sharman said.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said crews continued to “monitor” and dampen down hot spots and left the scene at 11.40am.

Neighbour Annette Sharman said she was alerted to the fire by her dogs James and Pipi. Photo: Madison Mifsud-Ure / Stanthorpe Border Post