Mission Beach restaurant Peppervine destroyed by fire

Police have given an update to their investigation into an inferno that destroyed an iconic Mission Beach restaurant as its owners reveal their next step. NEW PHOTOS

UPDATE: Shocking new photos have revealed the extent of damage caused by an inferno that tore through an iconic Mission Beach restaurant on Friday.

The owners of Peppervine restaurant have shared images of the devastation that reduced their business to rubble.

They have also provided insight into their plans to rebuild.

“Due to a fire in the early hours of Friday morning, Peppervine is currently closed with full intentions of rebuilding and reopening in the near future,” they posted on social media.

“Thank you everyone from all of us at Peppervine.”

A Queensland Police spokesman said authorities were still looking into what caused the blaze.

“The fire is still been investigated,” he said.

“(The) cause of fire still listed as undetermined at this stage.”

Fire tore through in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture: Supplied

Twisted metal is all that remains of the restaurant. Picture: Supplied

Peppervine is just the latest restaurant to fall victim to the curse of Mission Beach, in a growing line of businesses destroyed by fire.

Neighbouring businesses were also damaged. Picture: Supplied

EARLIER: Devastated business owners have watched their hearts and souls go up in smoke after an inferno tore through some of Mission Beach’s most iconic buildings.

The quiet off-season town was packed with fire crews on Friday morning as fire investigators combed through the charred remnants of the iconic Peppervine restaurant.

The culinary staple of the Cassowary Coast, known for its fine dining just a stone’s throw from the beach, was nothing but a gutted shell – and the damage did not stop there.

Scooped no1 ice cream owner Linda Willes received an unexpected phone call at 4.20am.

It was Peppervine’s owners, who did not wish to comment to media, alerting her to the blaze.

The airconditioning and all of the wood on one side of her shop was up in flames.

“When I got here there was smoke piling out of the roof,” she said.

“And when I opened the door there was just a heap of smoke.

“I’m not allowed into the shop yet, of course, but there were a lot freezers and everything on that side of the wall that are melted.

“Damage-wise, I’ve got no idea until I can get in there and check it all out.”

Ms Willes also owns a nearby fish and chip shop which thankfully escaped any damage.

She did not know whether her ice cream operation would ever reopen.

“Of course, I’m absolutely gutted that I’ve literally just restocked everything and lost it all now, but I really, really feel sorry for … the owners of Peppervine,” she said.

“I’ve still lost basically in there but the main thing is that everyone is OK, there was no one in the places at the time.

“I’m just absolutely devastated and hopefully I can be covered enough to replace what I need to replace.”

Peppervine, which was on the market, has long been a major tourism drawcard to Mission Beach.

It was also a favourite with locals.

Five fire trucks were sent to the scene of the blaze. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

“It’s a very, very big loss,” Ms Willes said.

“Peppervine is an absolutely wonderful restaurant, I’ve eaten there all the time.

“I normally go to the side window and, ‘Hey chef, I need dinner!’

“We’ve had quite a few fires go through different places around here so to have another one’s a big devastation.”

EARLIER: A devastating fire has reduced an iconic Mission Beach restaurant to ash and rubble and severely damaged multiple neighbouring businesses.

Witnesses to the disaster have described a massive, searing inferno with plumes of smoke visible from kilometres away.

Firefighters rushed to the scene of the fire on David St about 3.30am on Friday to find the Peppervine restaurant fully alight.

Five fire crews battled the blaze but were unable to save the business.

Flames also jumped into neighbouring shops and food outlets which have sustained significant damage.

The fire was not extinguished until about 7am, with crews remaining onsite to make the scene safe and prevent any further spot fires.

A witness, who took video of the inferno, said it was visible from kilometres away.

Mission Beach restaurant Peppervine sits just back from the beach.

“It’s basically gutted the whole building,” he said.

“It seemed to originate in Peppervine, and it’s hard to say but there was definitely damage to neighbouring businesses as well.

“Scooped Ice Cream had smoke coming out of its roof and they opened the ceiling just to make sure the fire didn’t start in there as well.

“Then there’s the biggest shop that used to be a supermarket five years ago and has been empty since then – that was on fire as well.”

The restaurant was put on the market last year.

Traders in a shopping complex across the road were relieved their businesses were spared.

“It was a raging fire,” said the witness, who did not want to be named.

“It’s scary. I feel for the shop owners – it’s just before tourist season as well.”

Fire investigators will examine the scene on Friday.

Follow @chriscalcino

Originally published as Mission Beach restaurant Peppervine destroyed by fire