Woman charged over unit fire on McLeod St, Cairns North

A 21-year-old woman is accused of setting fire to a mattress inside a Cairns North unit.

Firefighters contain smoke at Cairns North unit on McLeod St. Picture: Catherine Duffy

A 21-year-old woman has been charged over a fire at a Cairns North unit complex on Monday.

Police will allege the Cairns North woman set fire to a mattress inside a McLeod St unit within the complex about 1.40pm.

Emergency crews extinguished the fire, and no one was hurt.

A crime scene was declared, and the 21-year-old woman was arrested.

A police search also allegedly found a quantity of drugs.

Smoke was seen blanketing McLeod St between Short St and Arthur St, opposite Cairns North Community Health Facility.

Firefighters discovered a fire inside an apartment but put it out by 2.15pm.

Emergency crews on McLeod St. Picture: Catherine Duffy

The apartment’s occupants were all accounted for.

“The fire has been fully extinguished. Crews are now just working to ventilate the apartment,” a QFES spokeswoman said.

“Large amounts of smoke were seen coming from the unit complex.”

The 21-year-old has been charged with one count each of arson and possess dangerous drugs.

She was due to appear at Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday.

Originally published as Woman charged over unit fire on McLeod St, Cairns North