Major fire breaks out in Coast street

Two men have been hailed as ‘very brave, good Gold Coasters’ after rescuing an elderly man and two dogs from a burning house in Southport this afternoon. SEE THE VIDEO

TWO men have been hailed for their bravery after rescuing an elderly man and two dogs from a house which erupted into flames at Spendelove Street in Southport this afternoon.

Emergency services arrived to find the disorientated man sitting by the roadside in front of the house as the fire raged.

He had been led out of the house by the two men, who alerted emergency services before returning to the burning building to rescue the two dogs and a cockatoo.

“(The man) was a bit shocked, because he could see his house on fire obviously, but medically he was fine,” Acting Senior Operations Supervisor Paul Young said.

It is not yet known what started the blaze.

Smoke billows from a fire on Spendelove Ave in Southport. Picture: Jasmin Wheeler.

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Six fire crews battled the fire, which started just before 4pm.

Smoke was seen billowing from the home and loud bangs could be heard from inside as dozens gathered on the footpath to watch.

Neighbour Julie Hillbrick said flames appeared “out of nowhere” when the house caught alight.

“It was just a little bit of smoke at first,” she said.

“I jumped over the fence with the hose to put the fire out and as soon as it hit the glass the glass exploded.

“I was worried because the lady’s father is in the back bedroom.

“This guy just jumped through the front window, kicked the door in and brought the father out the back way.

“It’s terrible, they don’t deserve this. They’ve lost everything.

“They’re loving people, they’ve always looked after us.”

Crowds at Spendelove Ave in Southport where a fire broke out this afternoon.

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Two dogs and a cockatoo were also rescued from the house.

One of the dogs suffered a broken leg and has been taken to the vet, while the other is currently staying with Ms Hillbrick.

It’s not known where the home’s residents will be spending the night.

Senior Sergeant Brett Macgibbon said two men had rescued an older gentlemen and the animals from the home.

“They were very brave, good Gold Coasters,” he said.

“They’ve gone in and assessed the situation and got the gentleman out, I’m sure if they hadn’t have been nearby things would have been very different.

“Everyone loves their dog and they’ve thought ‘yep, he’s family’ and got him too.”

The house is still too dangerous to be investigated and a cause has not been determined.

A fire rages at Spendelove Ave in Southport.

Lucy Cavanagh and Luis Luna were across the street when flames broke out.

“It just sounded like gunshots, rapid succession,” Mr Luna said.

“Then it just all came up.”