Neighbours shaken: Man found dead after Cranbrook unit fire

A severely damaged crime scene is making it difficult for police to retrieve the body of an elderly man found dead in a unit fire overnight, with neighbours paying tribute to the 71-year-old.

A unit block on Orchid St, Cranbrook, has been turned into a crime scene after a man was found dead following a fire.

UPDATE, 11.50AM:

A severely damaged crime scene is making it difficult for police to retrieve the body of an elderly man found dead in a unit fire overnight.

Townsville Crime Service’s Phil Watts said scientific officers had not determined the cause of the fire or how the man died after fire crews were called to the fire at Orchid St, Cranbrook on Sunday night.

Detective Acting Inspector Watts said the 71-year-old’s family had been notified.

He said it was too early to tell if there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

“The cause of death will be found in the post mortem examination next week,” he said.

Det Act Insp Watts said the scene was still too dangerous to enter.

EARLIER:

Neighbours are in shock to learn a dead body was found at the scene of a huge unit fire last night, describing the victim as a kind resident who lived at the property many years.

A resident of Orchid St, Kay Newman, said she heard loud bangs and saw the unit on fire about midnight before other neighbours rushed onto the road.

Fire crews were called to the Cranbrook residence and found a man’s body inside

Ms Newman said the man, who she knew only as Peter, was a kind man and often walked his dogs up the street.

“I was up watching the fire relief concert and heard the dogs barking,” she said.

“I walked outside and saw all the lights.”

A neighbour described the man who died in a unit fire in Cranbrook as kind.

Townsville Police district duty officer Senior Sergeant Joe Matheson said the man was aged 71.

Police are on scene and forensics are expected to arrive in the next two hours.

Fire damage is evident at the front of the unit and on the roller door, with the front door burnt and ajar.

Ms Newman, who lived at her Cranbrook home for 18 years, said she was in shock and did not know how the fire started.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said it was a traumatic night.

The unit block and neighbouring home had been turned into a crime scene.

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Firefighters were called to a number of structure fires overnight.

Four crews battled with a blaze on Cay St, Saunders Beach.

The QFES spokeswoman said firefighters were notified of the fire at 3.51am on Monday and the structure had partially collapsed.

“Police confirmed there was no persons at that scene,” she said.

Firefighters are also working to control a structure fire which reignited in Cloncurry.

Crews arrived at the scene at 5.20pm on Sunday and had the fire under control by 17.25pm but it had since reignited in the early hours of Monday morning.

Originally published as Neighbours shaken: Man found dead after Cranbrook unit fire