Mudgeeraba fire spreads into second house in devastating fire on Gold Coast

A Gold Coast woman was just around the corner getting her hair dyed when she realised her home was one of two destroyed in a devastating fire.

A MUDGEERABA woman was getting her hair dyed at her friend’s house just around the corner from her home when she smelt smoke.

When they went outside to investigate, they realised one of the houses was hers.

The devastating fire ripped through two houses on Rainbow Drive just after 1pm this afternoon, destroying nearly everything.

The second house on fire. Picture: Adam Guiver

It is unknown what caused the fire, but Queensland Fire and Emergency Services inspectors are investigating.

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It is understood the fire began in one home, before quickly spreading to the woman’s house.

The thick smoke billowing in the strong winds. Picture: Adam Guiver

No one was injured, with one man seen to by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

“They just lost everything, it’s very distressing,” friend Penny Travers told the Bulletin.

“The wind was so strong, the first house had gone and it attached to my girlfriend’s.

“The first house was flattened by the time we got here. Then my girlfriend’s house went up.

“It’s terrible, they’re so sweet.”

There’s little left of the first house. Picture: Jerad Williams

While there was speculation the fire started in the solar panels, QFES Inspector Bruce Trickey was unable to confirm how the blaze had started.

It took a total of 29 firefighters more than an hour to extinguish the fire.

“Police and fire crews rescued a number of dogs from the properties,” Insp Trickey said, adding crews managed to battle the blaze under difficult conditions.

The second home’s roof and inside the home has been destroyed. Picture: Jerad Williams

However, one cat is unaccounted for.

High winds lashed the Gold Coast yesterday thanks to Cyclone Oma, which hovered about 400km offshore.

The winds, which reached 90 km/h, made the fire harder to manage.

In the street, groups of people, some believed to be the homeowners, sat on the grass and cried as they waited for firefighters to extinguish the flames.

Emergency services including police and fire fighters at the scene of a house fire involving the two homes. Picture: Jerad Williams

One home is completely gutted, with few walls surviving the blaze. One large hole was created in the Colorbond fence.

The second house was destroyed internally, however the shell remains.

Resident Adam Guiver said he was sitting on his balcony when he spotted thick smoke billowing from the homes.

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Residents were distraught. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It was terrible, so I rang firefighters,” he said.

“It’s so terrible for the families, I don’t know them but I have seen them around.”

Another resident who was hanging up washing outside at the time said she heard an explosion before noticing thick, black smoke.

“I saw the flames from the clothesline, I thought that’s too high,” she said.