Police investigate ‘suspicious’ fire in abandoned Warwick building overnight

A fire that broke out in an abandoned building on a major Warwick road overnight is currently being treated as suspicious by investigating officers, as they work to determine how the flames started. FULL DETAILS:

A fire that broke out in an abandoned building on a major Warwick street overnight is currently being treated as suspicious by police, with investigations to continue this week.

Emergency services were called to the vacant former bookshop on Albion St near Fitzroy St at about 4.45pm Tuesday, following reports of smoke coming from the building.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said to fire crews arrived at the scene to find a small fire inside the empty property, which was quickly extinguished without damage to the building.

He said firefighters then ventilated the building before leaving the area at about 5.40pm, with a fire investigation unit expected to return to the scene.

No one was inside the building at the time and no injuries were reported.

Warwick police Sergeant Shane Reid said investigations were ongoing to determine how the fire started, with the incident to be treated as suspicious unless proven otherwise.

The building at 34 Albion St as formerly listed on the Local Heritage Register, but was removed by Southern Downs Regional Council last year at the request of the building owners.