House fire was random attack, police allege
A man charged with four counts of attempted murder after he allegedly torched a Coorparoo home in a random and unprovoked attack has been rushed to hospital after collapsing in the watch house.
Police & Courts
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The man accused of setting a young family’s Coorparoo home alight while they were inside has been rushed to hospital after collapsing in the watch house this morning.
Wynnum West man Troy Barry Fien, 39, was due to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning charged with four counts of attempted murder.
But defence lawyer Sophie Taylor appeared for Fien this morning, asking for his case to be adjourned without bail application because he was being taken to hospital.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Cheryl Sayer told chief magistrate Terry Gardiner that soon after speaking with Ms Taylor, Fien had collapsed in the cells and been taken to hospital.
Fien is also charged with arson, entering a dwelling with intent and two counts of entering a premises and committing an indictable offence.
His case was adjourned for further mention on October 26 and he will be remanded in custody until that time unless he is able to successfully apply for bail in the interim.
Fien was arrested on Saturday, two days after he allegedly lit the Coorparoo home on fire about 3am Thursday, in what police will allege was an unprovoked and random attack.
It’s understood Fien was not known to the victims and their young daughters, who were all inside the Coorparoo home when the blaze was lit.
The family’s home was completely destroyed in the ferocious blaze.
The damage to the home was exacerbated by firefighters’ inability to immediately access flowing water following a recent road resurface that buried the hydrants.
The family was lucky to have escaped the inferno alive, as fire crews were unable to gain immediate access to fire hydrants following the road resurfacing by Brisbane City Council.
“The pavement had gone over the top of the fire hydrants so when the crews arrived they were unable to find them or get access to them,” said Queensland Fire and Emergency Service Inspector Rohan Wilschefski.
“It wasn’t until Urban Utilities came and told where the hydrants were located that we were able to dig them up.”
BCC last week wrote in a statement to The Courier-Mail that covering the hydrants for road resurfacing was “standard practice”.
“The hydrant locations are clearly identified with yellow spray paint and remain visible and functioning at all times. The hydrants were also clearly marked with yellow paint,” the statement said.
Although hydrants had been marked, firefighters had not been made aware they may be required to dig for water, said United Firefighters Union Queensland secretary John Oliver.
“No one tells us we have to dig out a hole,” he said. “I think council need to change their procedures … to ensure that we have ready access to water in a street, otherwise lives could be lost.”
