Toowoomba house fire: Man charged with arson, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm

The identity of a man who police allege tried to burn down a Toowoomba home just as two people were leaving, can be revealed after he spent the night in the watch house. PHOTOS.

A 47-year-old man was charged with arson. Police allege he deliberately set fire to a home on Vanity Street, Rockville, about 2pm on March 8, 2024.

A 47-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he allegedly attempted to burn down a Toowoomba home and seriously injure two people.

Police will allege Glenn Martin Cairns poured an accelerant inside the home at Vanity St, Rockville and set it on fire about 2pm on Friday.

They further allege the man lit the fire as two people, who had been on the deck, were leaving.

Emergency services responded quickly and brought the blaze under control, with the house sustaining only superficial smoke and fire damage.

The deck area, however, was visibly blackened.

The fire was brought under control quickly, preventing serious structural damage to the dwelling.

Neighbours rushed to help Mr Cairns and pulled him out of the house.

He was at the rear of the property when firefighters arrived.

Paramedics treated the man for minor burns to his feet and transported him to the Toowoomba Hospital under police guard.

The two others who had been leaving the home were not physically injured.

A crime scene was established as police began their investigations.

Mr Cairns appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates Court via video link from the Toowoomba watch house on Saturday morning.

There was no application for bail.

He is charged with one count of arson and two counts of acting intending to cause grievous bodily harm and his case will be mentioned again in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday.

Originally published as Toowoomba house fire: Man charged with arson, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm