Jayden Ries arrested after Tweed Heads fire that destroyed unit

A 23-year-old is facing nine charges after allegedly starting a fire in a Tweed Heads unit on Thursday night. SEE THE VIDEO

A 23-year-old will face nine charges after allegedly causing a fire in a unit block on Boundary St, Tweed Heads on Thursday night.

Tweed Heads man Jayden Ries was arrested after jumping out of a two storey building where he had allegedly started a fire after a domestic dispute with a neighbour.

Acting Commander of Tweed Byron police district Superintendent Mark Wall said police attended a block of units on Boundary St about 10.50pm after calls of a disturbance when they heard a fire alarm go off.

He said they then evacuated all other units before Mr Ries jumped out a second storey window.

Supt Wall said during the incident a number of police were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, however have since been discharged.

“Speaking to our counterparts at fire and rescue NSW and ambulance, police up at those unit blocks certainly saved the lives of some residents that were in there who were asleep at the time,” Supt Wall said.

“Fortunately none of them were too seriously injured as a result but the actions of police and fire and rescue quickly getting the residents out and extinguishing the blaze and certainly should be commended.

“The consequences could have been catastrophic for a number of residents and certainly himself.”

He said the initial disturbance was in relation to some alleged yelling.

Supt Wall said there were further police investigations ongoing redaring a number of licenced premises in the area.

Anyone with further information is urged to contact police.

A unit went up in flames on Boundary Street, Tweed Heads on March 17, 2022.

Mr Ries faces charges of breaching an apprehended domestic violence order; destroying or damaging property; aggravated break and enter and commit an indictable offence; common assault and five counts of destroy or damaging property with intent of endangering life.

He was refused police bail and is expected to appear in Ballina Local Court on Saturday.

NSW Ambulance inspector Anthony Zwegers echoed praise for the police’s actions.

“The response and efforts from NSW Police who were first on scene were instrumental in evacuating the unit block,” Mr Zwegers said.

“The police officers actions certainly saved lives and averted a potential significant event.

“When fire takes hold of a residential building like this it has the potential to be catastrophic.

“The fact that no one was seriously injured is a very good outcome.“

‘She was screaming’: Triple-0 caller tells of Tweed inferno

Witnesses to a fire on Boundary Street have described hearing loud pops before the blaze engulfed a Tweed Heads unit in the Panorama building.

Mira Vandoran called triple-0 when things escalated between her neighbours on Thursday night.

“We just had to run out, then he jumped out the window.”

Ms Vandoran said since the couple moved in she’d been avoiding the front door out of fear.

A neighbour in the next building Bella Stone described what she saw as “like death”.

“We’ve constantly been calling the police because it was dangerous,” she said.

“Last night I heard this screaming and then the bangs started going off, I thought it was going to blow up.”

Man arrested, 20 evacuated after Tweed Heads fire

A man has been arrested after the unit was completely destroyed in a blaze in Tweed Heads on Thursday night.

Emergency services attended the scene on Boundary Street about 10.50pm after reports of a concern for welfare.

Upon arrival, officers attached to Tweed/Byron Police District spoke to a woman before observing a fire in a separate unit.

A 23-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics after sustaining injuries when he jumped from a second-storey balcony.

He was arrested and taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for treatment before being taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.

A unit fire on Boundary Street at Tweed Heads raging about 10.50pm on Thursday night. Picture: Peter McCulkin/Facebook

Up to 20 people were evacuated from the unit block and two neighbouring unit complexes.

Eight police officers were also treated for minor smoke inhalation, with four officers taken to hospital. They have since been released.

Police were back on scene at the unit fire on Friday morning. Picture: Liana Walker

Tweed Heads Fire and Rescue Station Peter Raftery said upon arrival the unit in the five unit block was completely alight by the “intense fire.”

The fire completely destroyed a unit on Boundary Street. Picture: Peter McCulkin/Facebook

“The unit was fully destroyed by fire at the completion,” he said.

“All the other units were either smoke or water effected to some extent.”

He said the fire took about an hour to fully extinguish.

Investigations are continuing.