Fire crews battle Gold Coast house fire
THIS is the moment a Gold Coast house being used by squatters exploded into flames this arvo, with kids seen in the house at the time the fire started.
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FIREFIGHTERS have battled a blaze in an abandoned house in Southport for hours this afternoon.
The Meyer St house was gutted by fire when the blaze broke out at about 3.20pm.
Fire crews had still not extinguished it by 5pm with at least three crews on scene battling the inferno.
According to local residents the derelict house was being used by squatters but kids were seen in the house at the time the fire started.
Resident Mark Seager said he noticed three children run past his property and enter the abandoned house.
“The story is they were inside ... and we’re playing with matches,” he said.
“They went to the neighbour to ask if he could help them put the mattress out.”
John McManus, who lives next door, said kids knocked on his door to ask if he could put out the fire.
“The whole mattress was already alight,” he said.
“The flames were hitting the front windows.”
It is believed the three children are young boys aged between 10-13 years.
Police have confirmed no one was inside the home at the time of the blaze.
The blaze sent black smoke billowing into the sky.
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