Blaze engulfs Meridan Plains commercial shed on Sattler Rd

Concrete quarry workers were confronted with a crime scene following a blaze that destroyed a commercial shed and sparked a grassfire on a quiet Sunshine Coast road.

A crime scene has been established and police are investigating a suspicious blaze that destroyed a commercial shed and caused a grassfire on the Sunshine Coast.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said firefighters were called to a large demountable commercial shed on fire in Sattler Rd, Meridan Plains, and arrived about 7.50pm yesterday, October 23.

Concrete quarry site manager John Halloran said the site had opened in January and staff were working around the crime scene.

“We’ve had a team of police here overnight and basically it’s been hard for us to get employees in and equipment and obviously a lot of our equipment has been damaged and burnt in the fire,” he said.

The site manager said he could not put a cost on the damage bill as the business was still working through an inventory list to work out what it had lost.

A crime scene has been established as police investigate a blaze that destroyed a commercial shed and started a grassfire at a concrete quarry in Meridan Plains. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We’re happy that we were lucky enough to save our major pieces of equipment,” Mr Halloran said.

The fire spokeswoman said the shed fire was out by about 8pm but the blaze spread to surrounding grass and “multiple crews” worked to contain it.

Sunshine Coast police established a crime scene overnight at a concrete quarry in Meridan Plains, following a fire that destroyed a commercial shed full of equipment. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Halloran said the grassfire had also concerned the business because it had livestock and neighbours nearby.

The fire was extinguished by about 10.15pm.

The shed was destroyed.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said officers had established a crime scene and were treating it as a deliberately lit fire.

“A 39-year-old man is assisting police following a suspicious fire,” she said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said one person was treated for smoke inhalation but was not taken to hospital.

No charges have yet been laid.