Fire destroys makeshift homeless camp at Arundel

A makeshift camp for homeless people beside a busy Gold Coast road caught fire this afternoon, raising fears for nearby properties. SEE VIDEO OF THE BLAZE.

AN area known as a makeshift camp for homeless people mysteriously caught fire this afternoon.

Smoke was seen rising from a wooded area near the corner of Jacob Drive and Olsen Ave at Arundel at 1pm.

The nature strip, near the Dodgers Touch Football club, is regularly used as a camp area by a number of the region’s homeless.

MORE THAN 100 HOMELESS PEOPLE CAMPING IN SOUTHPORT

A fire broke out at a nature strip in Arundle Tuesday afternoon.

Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor, who was the first to the scene, said the bushland was well alight when he called Queensland Fire Service.

A number of tents and drug paraphernalia were found on site, but no one else was at the scene at the time of the fire.

“Tents have been there as long as I can remember, there were also a few bongs and light fittings,” Mr O’Connor said.

“There is a lot of bushland in the area, it could have been really bad if it had spread elsewhere.”

HOMELESS MAN DENIED ACCESS TO TOILET DESPITE MEDICAL CONDITION

The fires broke out near the temporary camp frequented by homeless people in the area.

Mr O’Connor said while he didn’t know the cause of the fire, illegal camping near property was a concern.

“It is a serious issue, we have seen camps established in a number of areas near Southport High School and bushland at the Health and Knowledge Precinct,” Mr O’Connor said.

“This is a real concern if it leads to a lost property.

“We know it isn’t an easy problem to solve in terms of outreach and having the right resources on the ground.”

Firies battled a blaze at an Arundle nature strip Tuesday afternoon.

Queensland Fire service confirmed they attended with two crews and had the blaze controlled by 1.30pm.

The source of the fire is still unknown.