Wholesale Paint shop partners are heartbroken after a blaze has destroyed their decades old store

A decades-old Cairns paint business has been reduced to its steel frame after a huge fire rocked Portsmith with an intense blaze and loud explosions.

A devastating blaze tore through Wholesale Paint Cairns in Portsmith early Monday morning, leaving the well-known business in ruins.

Owners Max Bennett and Stuart Smith described the fire as a heartbreaking blow.

“I got a call from my son in Paris … police sent him photos saying the place was on fire, and I came straight down,” Mr Bennett said.

Wholesale Paint Cairns has had their warehouse on Ray Jones Drive gutted by fire overnight, with the flames totally destroying the building. Firefighters spray water into the ruins to cool down hotpots still smoldering inside the building. Picture: Brendan Radke

The pair have run the business since the early 1980s, growing it from scratch into a hub for local contractors and customers.

“It’s our heart. People came here any time they needed something, 24-7,” Mr Smith said.

A fire has ripped through paint shop, Wholesale Paint Cairns, on the corner of Aumuller Street in Portsmith on Monday morning, September 29, 2025. Picture: Emma Cam.

Mr Bennett said fortunately fire crews were able to save some items in the flammable store at the back.

“If that had gone up, it would have been like a bomb going off,” he said.

Wholesale Paint Cairns has had their warehouse on Ray Jones Drive gutted by fire overnight, with the flames totally destroying the building. Firefighters inspect the ruins where hotpots were still smoldering inside the building. Picture: Brendan Radke

Detectives from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch have declared the store a crime scene, and are appealing for public assistance following the suspicious fire.

A public service announcement was made just before 3am, which was then revoked by 6am September 29.

A Queensland police spokeswoman said investigations are ongoing.

“Detectives are keen to speak to anyone with information or relevant vision of the incident,” she said.

A fire has ripped through paint shop, Wholesale Paint Cairns, on the corner of Aumuller Street in Portsmith on Monday morning, September 29, 2025. Picture: Emma Cam.

A mother who had picked up her son from work at the Cairns shipyard said she was overwhelmed by the smoke.

Jenelle Reghenzani described the scene as chaos.

“It’s been here since day dot and now it’s just a shell. All that’s left is the steel structure. I almost threw up in the car after picking up my son — the smell is so bad,” she said.

Eight fire crews and multiple police units responded to the blaze, with an emergency declaration made just after 2am on September 29.

The Cairns fire exclusion zone encompasses Ray Jones Drive, Buchan Street to Lyons Street and Aumuller Street, Kenny Street to Tingera Street.

The exclusion zone extended along Ray Jones Drive from Buchan Street to Lyons Street and Aumuller Street from Kenny Street to Tingera Street.

Witnesses reported thick, toxic black smoke billowing into the sky.

File photo of the paint shop before it was engulfed by flames. Picture: Web.

Wholesale Paint Cairns has had their warehouse on Ray Jones Drive gutted by fire overnight, with the flames totally destroying the building. Firefighters inspect the ruins where hotpots were still smoldering inside the building. Picture: Brendan Radke

Queensland Fire and Rescue station officer Cairns, Scott McGraw said by saving part of the flammable goods stored in the back building, it prevented a much bigger disaster.

“On arrival at this morning, the building was completely engulfed, flames coming out of the roof and huge black smoke heading back towards the city,” he said.

“The heat twisted and bent all the metal and steel.”

Firefighter helps dampen the building. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr McGraw said it the fire was deep-seeded and the area was unsafe.

“We’ve got a lot of rubble here, and it’s an unsafe area… structural collapse is possible,” he said.

A fire has ripped through paint shop, Wholesale Paint Cairns, on the corner of Aumuller Street in Portsmith on Monday morning, September 29, 2025. Picture: Emma Cam.

The station officer said about 200 litres of foam, which forms a blanket over flammable liquids, is how crews were able to effectively extinguish the fire.

“When we arrive and the building’s gone for all intents and purposes … our priority shifts to what we can save immediately around it. That’s where our attention goes,” Mr McGraw said.

The station officer said about 200 litres of foam, which forms a blanket over flammable liquids. Picture: Emma Cam.

“This is how we managed to prevent the fire from entering the storage building at the back,” he said.

“However, part of why it went into such an inferno is because of the material inside — paint and other flammable liquids.”

Wholesale Paint Group. File photo Cairns Post 26/11/16

Fire crews will remain on scene, likely, all day as they monitor spot fires and continue to make the area safe.

A crime scene has been established by Queensland Fire Department and Queensland Fire and Rescue.

“There’s a lot of heat in here. It’s going to continue to smoulder … we’ll maintain a firefighting presence here all day,” Mr McGraw said.

Wholesale Paint Group. File photo. Cairns Post 26/11/16

In an earlier advice, Queensland Fire Department warned smoke and a “strong smell” would linger in the area for several hours.

“Smoke and strong smells can make it hard for some people to breathe,” the warning said.

Those with breathing conditions were urged to keep respiratory medication close by.

“If you are in the warning area, stay inside and close windows and doors to keep the smoke and strong smell out.”

Originally published as Wholesale Paint shop partners are heartbroken after a blaze has destroyed their decades old store