Residents evacuated after home near Club Hotel Ravenshoe burns down
The owner of a home destroyed in a Tablelands fire has been identified as a rural fire volunteer, who was undergoing cancer treatment when the blaze started.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The owner of a house that burnt down in Ravenshoe has been identified as a rural fire volunteer, who was undergoing cancer treatment when the blaze started.
Club Hotel Ravenshoe owner Emma Pignatt, whose business was threatened by the house fire on Grigg Street, said the home was owned by local electrician and rural fire service volunteer Rob Doyle, who was undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the time.
“He was in hospital getting chemo when it happened - his workshop is on the main street but his home was behind that building and it was his home that burnt down,” Ms Pignatt said.
“He’s one of our local volunteer firefighters, quite significant to the community.”
Ms Pignatt said the blaze was so strong, staff, family and community members stepped in to help save the pub next door.
“Everyone stepped in... me, my two boys and staff all with hoses,” she said.
“The firies had too much going on on the other side of the building that’s been lost, so we had to fight from our side, it was a real family effort that saved this place today.”
Ms Pignatt thanked members of the community who defied police orders to get away from the fire for saving the pub, which she has run with her husband since 2022.
“My husband’s family’s owned it since 1992 but my husband and I took over in 2022,” she said.
“My two stepsons and other locals jumped in, and had the police telling us to get out of there and we jumped in and said we’re saving this place.
“This town is good, when there’s an emergency really brave locals will jump in.”
A Queensland Fire Department spokesman confirmed eight crews responded to reports of the well-involved house fire on Griggs Street in Ravenshoe about 9am of Friday.
“The rear of the house was fully involved and there were some (buildings) nearby that were evacuated,” the spokesman said.
“No one was inside the building and the fire was brought under control by 11.30am.”
The spokesman confirmed crews were still on site to make the scene safe.
It is understood the building is between the Mamu Clinic and Club Hotel Ravenshoe.
Originally published as Residents evacuated after home near Club Hotel Ravenshoe burns down
Pack of teens bash man with wet floor sign
A second child has pleaded guilty to his role in a sickening pile-on bashing and robbery of a 47-year-old man in Cairns Central shopping centre in September last year by a pack of teens armed with a wet floor sign.
Why Qld police are walking off the beat
With an average of one police officer a day walking away from their roles, the Queensland union president has raised fears they will never come back to the force.