Fire fighters urge Queensland residents to be safer after 715 house fires this year

Firefighters say deadly blazes are ripping through modern-day Queensland homes six times faster than they were decades ago, with residents warned they just have minutes to escape before being seriously injured or killed.

Deadly fires are ripping through modern-day Queensland homes six times faster than they were decades ago, leaving residents with just a few minutes to escape alive.

The shocking revelation comes after a string of fatal house fires across southeast Queensland in the last week, including a tragic blaze at a Woodridge home which claimed the life of a mother and son.

It was one of 66 house fires across Queensland just this month, prompting fire fighters to call on residents to do more to stay safe.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Fire Investigation Unit manager Daren Mallouk said the latest surge was “alarming”, warning that modern day homes were full of hidden fuels.

Inspector Daren Mallouk. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Typically, in five to eight minutes a room – depending on how big that room is – is fully involved in fire,” Mr Mallouk said.

“The survival, in those types of things, is zero.”

Decades ago, Mr Mallouk said it took at least 30 minutes for a fire to take hold of a room, and even then it was usually “low level” and “completely survivable”.

Station Officer Andrew Crane putting out a demonstration of a bedroom fire which started from a heater. Photo Steve Pohlner

He said the smaller size of older homes, compartmentalised rooms, and natural building materials like wool, cotton, and hardwood floors meant fires couldn’t progress as quickly through a home.

But modern-day homes with open plan living, laminated lightweight floors and synthetic furniture made for a perfect storm of fuel and oxygen for a fire to escalate “very quickly”.

“It’s like chalk and cheese,” he said.

Since January, 715 house fires have occurred across the state, including 284 in kitchens, 73 in garages, and 62 in sleeping areas. This also includes a number of heater-related fires.

A heater sparks a fire in a demonstration room, quickly spreading to a curtain. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Seconds later, the fire was consuming the whole room. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Most recently, Woodridge mother Carmel Pierce and her son Marcus, 60, died when they couldn’t escape a fire in their home on June 16. The fire was not suspicious.

Just days earlier, Danny Carr died in a unit fire at Albion which also left his carer and partner Jasmin Boyd, 33, fighting for life in hospital. Police are investigating.

An elderly Robina woman also died in a house fire at her property on June 18. It was not suspicious.

Superintendent Mark Halverson showing how a heater can quickly set fire to a room if not properly used. Photo Steve Pohlner

Mr Mallouk said foam products like mattresses and lounges were some of the worst products to burn in a house fire.

“Once an open flame hits them, they burn very quickly and with a lot of heat energy. They also melt … which can run to different parts of the floor.”

But one of the biggest fire risks were lithium ion batteries.

“They’re in a class of their own in terms of how quickly they can escalate.

“I’ve seen them go up in under a minute. But typically, throw that in the mix, it will be two to three minutes.”

Mr Mallouk said property owners needed to get their fire safety up to scratch by checking their heaters were compliant, smoke alarms were working, and fire escape plans were ready.

Originally published as Fire fighters urge Queensland residents to be safer after 715 house fires this year