Tewantin business fire ruled suspicious as police continue investigation

Police have revealed what they need from members of the public following a Tewantin blaze that destroyed several businesses as their hunt for suspects continues.

Damage to The Groomery following a fire at a shopping complex in Tewantin.

Noosa detectives are appealing for public help after a fire that tore through several Tewantin businesses on Good Friday.

Emergency services were called to the blaze at the Hilton Tce and Earl St shopping complex at 12.25am on Friday April 7, 2023 with the fire having started in the tobacconist.

The blaze was later declared suspicious and the Noosa Criminal Investigation Branch launched an investigation.

Detectives are appealing to any drivers who were in the area prior to the fire starting to come forward with any dashcam footage they may have recorded on Goodchap St or Hilton Tce.

They also asked any residents or businesspeople who had CCTV footage of the lead-up to the blaze to share it with police.

Melted ceiling inside The Groomery.

None of the business owners, including the owners of the tobacconist, are accused of any wrongdoing or any involvement in the incident.

Earlier in the week, Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said police were collating CCTV footage and conducting door knocks in the area.

Deb Scott’s business The Groomery was one of several nearby that were severely damaged in the fire.

She said she stood to lose around $70,000 to $80,000 in pet grooming bookings.

“We were fully booked six weeks ahead,” she said.

“We’re trying to find a premises to just work even temporarily to keep up with those if we can.”

The building fire at Earl St and Hilton Terrace has been ruled suspicious.

Ms Scott said she had managed to save some equipment but there would be no safe way to resume business at the store.

“The roof is caving in, everything has melted,” she said.

Ms Scott said she was told there were signs of a break and enter at the tobacconist and that people had been talking about another fire at a smoke shop in Gympie three days later on April 10, 2023.

“There’s rumours floating around, a lot of rumours, and it’s all just hearsay at the moment,” she said.

“They (the tobacconist store owners) don’t deserve what happened to them.”

Ms Scott said the building will need to be completely stripped.