Massive blaze destroys four homes and puts city block into emergency lockdown

Four homes were gutted by a mega blaze that spread quickly overnight, sending neighbours running into the street.

Photographs from the scene of a massive blaze that destroyed four homes in an inner-city Brisbane suburb show the extent of the devastation.

At least 35 firefighters worked to extinguish the Heaslop St home in Woolloongabba that broke out before 2.30am on Thursday and quickly spread to three other homes.

Neighbours woke to the sound of dogs barking and the thick smell of smoke before firefighters were forced to evacuate them from their homes.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Superintendent Tim Watkins said the heat from the blaze was enough to melt rubbish bins across the road.

Photos taken after the blaze was extinguished show a corrugated roof sagging into the crumbling structure and blackened timber.

A massive blaze spread to four homes in Heaslop St in Woolloongabba overnight. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

Neighbours woke to the smell of smoke and sounds of dogs barking. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

A sign outside one of the homes warns emergency services that flammable gas was detected in the area and smoking, sparks and flames are prohibited until it is deemed safe.

Firefighters’ immediate concern upon arrival was to stop the fire from spreading further, an increased risk in the inner-city suburb where the majority of homes are timber Queenslander-style properties.

“The houses are very close together in these inner-city suburbs and they are made of wood, so they go up very quickly and intensely,” Superintendent Watkins told Today.

“It (the fire) was going to spread quickly.”

Four homes were destroyed during the blaze.

The charred remains of the building structure. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

Firefighters on the scene assessing damage. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

A sign out the front of one of the destroyed homes. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

Water splashed onto the home as the clean-up continued. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

“Unfortunately, there were four houses lost, but without the efforts of the crews here this morning, it could have been far worse,” Superintendent Watkins said.

An emergency situation was declared by 3.15am, with residents of three adjoining streets – Merton Rd, Catherine St and Annerley Rd – all stuck inside the exclusion zone.

It was revoked shortly after 7.30am; however, Heaslop St remains closed.

At least 35 firefighters worked to contain the blaze through the night. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

The location of two fires that broke out within 24 hours of each other in the suburb of Woolloongabba. Picture: Google Maps

“Around 2.30am, both of my dogs were barking their heads off, making a massive ruckus and so that woke me up and I was confused as to what was going on,” a neighbour old Today.

An exclusion zone was ordered. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

Firefighters shoot water onto the properties. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

Ambulance crews were on standby to assist firefighters. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

The air was filled with dark smoke. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

Firefighters have extinguished the fire. Picture: QAS via NCA NewsWire

“And then my mother came and woke me up and said, ‘We have to get out of the house right now’.”

He described the fire as a “really large inferno”, adding that he “could feel the heat” and hear the powerlines “crackling” before they came down.

Ambulance crews were on standby to assist firefighters but no injuries were been reported.

It’s the second fire to break out in the suburb of Woolloongabba – the home of the Gabba cricket ground – in just 24 hours, with firefighters only extinguishing a fire on Reid St just after 11am on Wednesday.

Originally published as Massive blaze destroys four homes and puts city block into emergency lockdown