Suspicious fire destroys two homes under construction at Mango Hill

Three boys, aged between 13 and 15, have been charged over what police allege was a deliberately lit fire that destroyed a family’s dream home north of Brisbane.

Kulbinder Sandhu outside the home her family was set to move into in July

Three teenage boys have been charged over a major fire that destroyed two under-construction houses north of Brisbane on Tuesday morning, with police alleging it was deliberately lit.

Emergency services were called to the fire on Deacon Crescent at Mango Hill about 2am, with one property fully engulfed when they arrived and the neighbouring property also on fire.

Both properties were extensively damaged.

A 15-year-old Mango Hill boy was on Wednesday charged with two counts of arson – structure or building – and one count each of enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence and endangering particular property by fire.

He has been released on bail and will face Pine Rivers Children Court on May 27.

A 13-year-old Sandstone Point boy was charged with one count of enter trespass and has subsequently been dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

Another Mango Hill boy, 14, was on Wednesday afternoon charged with two counts of arson, and one count each of enter premises with intent, endangering particular property by fire.

He is due to appear in Redcliffe Childrens Court on May 17.

The extent of damage inside the home revealed. Picture: Supplied

The owners of the homes were at the scene on Tuesday morning, saying they had been looking forward to moving in within weeks.

The owners of one of the homes told how they had planned to retire there.

The two houses were both under construction and no one was found inside either property, but there have been social media reports that young people were seen fleeing the construction zones.

Emergency services at the scene on Tuesday morning. Picture: Kate Stephenson

Officer in Charge of the Redcliffe Criminal Investigation Branch, Detective Snr-Sergeant Michael Hogan, would not confirm on Tuesday if alleged suspects seen running from the scene by witnesses and captured on CCTV were youths.

However he said police were not going to “rule it out’’.

He said there was still no indication yet about how the blaze was lit.

“Detectives have commenced interviewing witnesses and we’re following up a number of leads,” Det Sen-Sgt Hogan said.

“The investigation to date suggests the fire was deliberately lit and we are treating it as suspicious.

“A number of witnesses have seen people running from the scene.

“Police are interested in finding out the identity of those people and questioning them about their involvement.

“We’d like to thank members of the community who have already come forward and provided information.

“I’d also like to encourage anyone else who may have information to come forward.’’

He said the fires had been “tragic’’ for the owners, who were on the verge of moving in.

“The people who have had their house damaged, they’re obviously distraught as well,” he said.

Damage to one of the homes after the fire. Picture: Supplied

Kulbinder Sandhu and her family were planning to move into their new home, now destroyed in the fire, in two months.

“We couldn’t believe it, we are heartbroken,” Ms Sandhu said.

“It was meant to be our retirement home. We had a couple of events planned for when we move in, like my son’s 18th birthday and my daughter’s wedding.

“Ever since we migrated to Australia we have put all our earnings into this home.

“We were so looking forward to moving in.”

Ms Sandhu said more needed to be done to protect the neighbourhood and stop youth crime after a nearby home was vandalised late last year.

“In this area where we have so many people around, if people are not secure here,” she said.

“It’s a shock to the community.

“What did anyone gain in this and what did people lose in this and what did we do wrong?”

Wendy James and husband Barry James were six weeks away from moving in when they woke to the news their new home had been severely damaged.

“We’re in shock and pretty devastated,” Mrs James said.

Barry and Wendy James outside the home they were preparing to move in to. Picture: Kate Stephenson

The top floor and adjoining side of their property was burnt beyond repair.

The couple were planning to retire to the lakeside property which they say was their dream home.

“We designed it ourselves with the help of our builder,” Mr James said.

“The benchtops went in last week,” Mrs James said. “We weren’t planning on moving out once we were in.”

Mr and Mrs James say the top floor will likely need to be demolished, setting back their move by months.

The pair are living with their pregnant daughter as they wait for the home to be finished.

Paramedics attended to one man with minor smoke inhalation who refused transport to the hospital; no other patients were assessed.

Police are requesting anyone with relevant footage of the area, particularly around 1.30am to 2.30am on Tuesday to contact them directly.