Internal Queensland Fire and Emergency Services report raises doubts over cause of 2019 Binna Burra Lodge blaze

The fire which destroyed Binna Burra lodge likely started at an unknown shooting range in the hinterland, an internal report has revealed.

The fire which destroyed Binna Burra lodge likely started at an unknown shooting range in the hinterland, an internal report has revealed.

The 2019 blaze, which ripped through the iconic lodge and a further 11 homes, was initially thought to have been started by a cigarette.

The beloved hinterland lodge was left completely gutted by the fire in September 2019. Police at the time believed a discarded cigarette was to blame, ultimately labelling it an accident.

Now a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services report obtained by the ABC has cast doubt over that claim.

The ruins of Binna Burra Lodge after Bushfires destroyed the historic retreat. Picture: Kirstin Payne

The report, written by an experienced QFES investigator called in just days after the fire, also gives evidence firefighters left a containment point labelled as “under control”.

It then raged through buildings, including the lodge, and across swathes of World Heritage Listed bushland.

The investigator included evidence of a mystery shooting range in the Sarabah Valley, allegedly finding a number of spent shotgun and rifle cartridges, wire, metal targets, a bottle of mineral turpentine and two spent fire extinguishers.

Fire burning in Illinbah, Queensland on Friday, September 6, 2019.

He wrote: “The probability of ignition by cigarette to occur is extremely low and would require a level of relative humidity well below 22 per cent and less than 14 per cent dead fuel moisture.”

Queensland Police Services has since backed their own findings, saying the matter had been finalised and there was “no definitive cause of ignition”.

“Each fire is different, with a range of circumstances that have to be taken into account,” a spokesperson said.

“QPS worked with QFES throughout this investigation, attending the scene and considering a range of evidence.”

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