Mooloolaba unit fire: Gas bottle catches fire on Parkyn Pde

“Frantic” scenes erupted in Mooloolaba overnight after a gas bottle fire left a man suffering burns to his arms and legs. WATCH THE VIDEO

Flames were shooting “left, right and centre” after a gas bottle caught fire at a Mooloolaba unit overnight.

Seven fire crews, police, paramedics and Energex were called to the Parkyn Parade unit at 7pm on Wednesday night after a gas bottle caught fire on a ground floor balcony.

Mooloolaba resident and witness Garry, who wished not to be further identified, filmed the blaze from behind a tree.

He said the scene unfolded “quickly”.

“Old mate was on his balcony lighting a barbecue and next minute the gas bottle was shooting flames left, right and centre,” he said.

“It was a bit frantic for a few minutes and it became uncontrollable.

“The flames were shooting up to the second floor.”

He said emergency services feared the gas bottle would “blow up” and quickly evacuated nearby residents.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said critical care paramedics took a man in his 20s to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with burns to his arms and lower limbs, reported as minor injuries on Wednesday night.

The man also suffered smoke inhalation, but was in a stable condition.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency spokesman said seven fire crews attended the scene, with one crew wearing breathing apparatuses while controlling the blaze.

The spokesman said the barbecue fire started on a unit’s balcony and spread to an adjacent room.

He said crews were able to extinguish the fire by 7:55pm.

The spokesman said firefighters had no information about the extent of the damage caused to the building.

The property manager has been contacted for comment.