Sunshine Coast police probe starts into Maroochydore unit fire

A man who was left with serious burns in a Sunshine Coast unit fire has been charged following an incident involving a knife earlier that day.

A man has been charged with drug offences following a Sunshine Coast unit fire that left him with serious burns.

Neighbours have described the moments before a Maroochydore unit went up in flames on October 18.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said officers were called to the unit on Wrigley St about 10.05pm on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old man was first taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said paramedics treated the man who was in a serious condition with burns to his legs.

A Maroochydore man, 41, was treated for serious burns following a unit fire on October 18.

Police alleged earlier that day, the 41-year-old man was seen carrying a knife in the common area of the unit complex, following a verbal disagreement with another man.

It was also alleged he stopped outside a woman’s unit while armed before returning to his home.

The scene of a unit fire in Maroochydore which sparked up about 10pm Wednesday, October 18.

Police were called and officers allegedly found a knife, drugs and drug paraphernalia in the man’s possession.

No one was physically injured.

The Maroochydore man has been charged with forcible entry, possessing dangerous drugs, possess utensils or pipes, and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.

He was given police bail to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on November 6.

The 41-year-old man has been charged with several offences following an incident earlier in the day.

A neighbour described hearing loud noises from their backyard before the fire began later that night.

“I heard a couple of big bangs, it sounded like someone was kicking the door in,” she said.

“Then I heard a smash and I could smell fuel and next thing you know, there was smoke billowing up.

“There was fire coming out of the building and dripping onto the ground.”

She added that a “man was trying to put the fire out on his feet”.

“I was just worried for our community,” she said.

Another witness was woken up after hearing a smash of a window.

“We heard the crashing of glass, we saw the flames in the wall,” he said.

“I went and stayed with a mate last night.”

The police spokeswoman said the fire had “extensively damaged” the front of the unit.

No charges have been laid in relation to the fire.