Manly fire: 30 evacuated as blaze rips through commercial building

A crime scene has been declared as parts of a building collapsed and dozens of people were evacuated after a major fire on Brisbane’s bayside.

A crime scene has been declared as parts of a building collapsed and dozens of people were evacuated after a major fire on Brisbane’s bayside on Tuesday night.

A police officer at the fire scene at Manly. Picture: Richard Walker

The fire broke out in a commercial building in Yamboyna St, Manly, about 6.15pm on Tuesday.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said nine crews attended the blaze.

The blaze at Manly: Picture: Michelle Courtier/Facebook

The spokeswoman said the building’s external structure where the fire had started had collapsed and 30 people from a nearby unit complex had been evacuated.

The commercial property hit by fire on Tuesday night. Picture: Richard Walker

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said no patients required treatment.

The cause of the fire was not yet known and investigators were expected to return this morning.

Online promotional supplier 1300 epromo, homeware store Bango Jango, Kirrily Beauty and a massage parlour operate inside the commercial building.

A fire also ripped through the neighbouring commercial building leased by industrial machinery manufacturing company Flying Fish Technologies.

The garage door of the commercial property was broken and severely burned, exposing a charred and gutted interior.

The smell of smoke remained throughout the street on Wednesday morning, with police and emergency services crews on the scene.

Kirrily Beauty owner Kirrily Page was inside the property when the blaze started.

Ms Page told The Courier-Mail moments before the fire broke out she heard banging and thought someone was trying to force themselves into the building.

The blaze at Manly: Picture: Melanie Peasey/Facebook

Numerous businesses were destroyed in the blaze. Picture: Josh Crichton/Facebook

“We were in the back, we heard noises, like banging throughout and we thought someone was in the building,” Ms Calvert said.

“As I came to the front I could see smoke, it took me a few seconds to realise what it was. Then I saw these flames and it was right next to the window [at the front of the building].

“I believe the fire was in the passageway..The flames were so close to the window and it was too quick.”

Ms Calvert said it was about 6.15pm when she called emergency services and made a run for it.

Tammy Taylor, 1300epromo and Bango Jango owner, arrived on scene Wednesday morning and embraced Ms Page before she surveyed the destruction and saw what remained of her shop.

Ms Taylor told The Courier-Mail she was weeks from opening a retail space for customers and had stock arriving later in the day.

Councillor Alex Givney said she lived close by and was shocked by the blaze.

“Everybody is quite devastated. The bayside community is really tight knit, and we do come together when things like this happen so I think everyone today will be asking what can we do to help,” Ms Givney said.

Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam vision, is urged to contact police.

Originally published as Manly fire: 30 evacuated as blaze rips through commercial building