Update after person dies following ‘suspicious’ hostel fire in tourist town

Police have provided an update after an enormous fire ripped through a backpackers’ hostel and left one person dead.

Police have provided an update after a person’s body was found following a “suspicious” fire at a backpackers’ hostel in a popular Queensland tourist town.

Emergency services were called to Barnacles Backpackers on Gordon St in Bowen, about 1150km north of Brisbane, about 3.30am on Wednesday.

“Initial information indicated the building was occupied at the time of the fire; however, everyone evacuated safely,” a police statement read.

A person has died in a fire that devastated a backpackers' hostel in the North Queensland town of Bowen. Picture: ABC

The fire tore through the building and destroyed the premises, Mackay Whitsundays District Detective Inspector Luke Jackson told reporters on Thursday.

“(Firefighters) were unable to suppress the fire enough to save the building,” he said.

“It’s suffered severe damage.”

It took several hours for the flames to be put under control, with the fire extinguished on Wednesday afternoon.

Five people were inside the building at the time of the fire, Inspector Jackson said, and “all living at the residence had been accounted for”.

Police have deemed the fire as suspicious. Picture: Facebook

When authorities began further searches of the property, they discovered the body of a person inside a “room that was vacant at the time”.

“The (remains) weren’t expected to be there,” Inspector Jackson said, adding the residents were not aware a person was inside at the time of the fire.

A forensic investigation has been launched to identify the victim.

A crime scene was established, and while police are yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, they have deemed the blaze suspicious.

Police are also investigating whether the timber building had met the building safety standards when the fire started.

Anyone who may have witnessed anything, or has dashcam or CCTV from the area, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Update after person dies following ‘suspicious’ hostel fire in tourist town