House erupts in flames in Wellington Point

A neighbour has praised the efforts of two “heroes” who ran into a burning duplex east of Brisbane to rescue an elderly man who wanted to retrieve his trapped dog.

A neighbour has praised the efforts of two “heroes” who ran into a burning Wellington Point duplex to rescue an elderly man who wanted to retrieve his trapped dog.

The homes of two elderly men were destroyed after the duplex erupted in flames at 5.26pm Wednesday.

The man’s dog “Buddy” is believed to have died in the fire.

Multiple fire crews battled the intense blaze on Main Rd, with police and Queensland Ambulance Service crews also on scene but everyone escaped the fire without injuries.

Ben White, also a resident on Main Rd, said two “heroes” who live a few doors down ran into the smoke-filled house to try and save one man who had not left and whatever else they could salvage.

“The dog was at the back in one of the rooms scratching at the door to get out,” he said.

“The smoke was about 80cm from the floor and ceiling started to collapse so the guy who was in there deep said it was too risky as the ceiling started dropping.

“It was only 13 minutes from when smoke came out that the roof collapsed in at the back, which is where the dog was.

“The man on the left side of the duplex we got out. The one on the right was still in there and didn’t want to leave.

“They helped get him out and we helped talk him into not going back in.

“He wanted to get Buddy and his new car out but the ceiling had already started collapsing so it was not worth anyone losing their life for.

“It’s a hard call to make when loved pets were in there. I was so sad when we had to help him stay out.”

One of the men went with ambulance crews to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Mr White, who made the Triple-0 call, has already started a GoFundMe page to help the two men.

A house fire on Main Rd, Wellington Point. Picture: Stephanie Marshall

A nearby resident said she was working from home when she heard a bang which sounded like a “gunshot”.

“I didn’t think anything of it but then I heard another one and then I also heard a siren so I turned around and saw flames outside and saw it was a house fire and a lot of black smoke so I ran down there,” she said.

“When we got down there it looked like there was an old man who got out, I think it was his place, then I heard the fireys and police say everyone else got out safe which was good.

“When we were down there it looked like they had got it under control but then when we walked away there were more bangs and saw the flame had travelled into the next home in the duplex.”