Crews work to contain South Burnett building fire

Police have confirmed a fire which destroyed a bank building in the South Burnett overnight is being treated as suspicious.

Blackbutt bank fire

Police are treating a fire which destroyed an old bank building in the South Burnett overnight as suspicious.

Emergency services worked to contain the large building fire on Friday evening.

Multiple crews arrived at the Hart St address in Blackbutt just after 7pm following reports of a structure fire.

The building was well alight, but crews managed to stop the flames from spreading to nearby properties.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said the fire was contained by about 7.50pm and fully extinguished at around 9.45pm.

Scenes of Crime officers attended the site overnight, and a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman on Saturday confirmed that investigations were ongoing.

“The fire is being treated as suspicious,” the spokeswoman said, added that no charges had been laid at this stage.

One woman who live-streamed the fire said the building used to be the old National Bank before being converted into a doctors’ surgery. It had reportedly been unoccupied for several years.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed no patients had been reported, and paramedics remained on scene to support firefighters.

No evacuations were necessary.

Originally published as Crews work to contain South Burnett building fire