Firefighters battle house fire in Darling Heights, Toowoomba

Neighbours were shocked to wake up to big bangs, smoke and flames in a quiet Queensland suburb, as investigators work to solve what started the Sunday morning house fire.

Firefighters battled an early morning house fire in Toowoomba which covered the street in smoke, sparking a warning for neighbours.

The fire broke out in the ceiling of a home in Bow Court, Darling Heights, around 6.50am Sunday. No one was inside at the time.

Four Queensland Fire and Rescue Services crews had brought the blaze under control by 8.15am.

Emergency crews battled a blaze at a property on Bow Court, Darling Heights in Toowoomba. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

“Smoke is expected to impact the surrounding area over the next several hours,” QFES warned.

“Residents should close windows and doors and keep respiratory medications close by if required.

“Motorists should drive with caution and to the conditions.”

Queensland Ambulance services attended the fire, but no injuries were reported.

Fire inspector Chris Martial said four fire crews rushed to the scene after multiple triple zero calls.

“We had a house well-involved in fire,” Mr Martial said.

Emergency crews battled a blaze at a property on Bow Court, Darling Heights in Toowoomba. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

“There weren’t any other houses affected, there was just a lot of low-lying smoke in the area.

Mr Martial said no cause of the fire had been concluded yet, but he said there “was a heater in the room”.

“On the initial triple zero call, it was advised to us that there was two persons that were actually missing within the building.

“After conducting our primary search of the building, we were able to account for all occupants.”

A neighbour of the Bow St property, Riley Wirth, said he woke at about 6.30 to the sound of explosions nearby.

“By the time I woke up it had already been (burning) for probably ten minutes,” Mr Wirth said. “I did hear a couple bangs a little earlier but I didn’t think anything of it - I had a look around the house but didn’t see anything.

“And then the second time I heard them I opened the window and had a look and there was smoke and flames coming from next door.”

Mr Wirth said he couldn’t describe how the explosions sounded, but they were loud enough to wake him from where he was on the opposite side of the house.

Emergency crews battled a blaze at a property on Bow Court, Darling Heights in Toowoomba. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

By the time he got to the street, Mr Wirth said a few other neighbours were also on the street, and he sprung into action.

Mr Wirth said he went into the yard and up to the house to see if anyone was inside.

“I was knocking on the doors and windows to see if anyone was in there,” Mr Wirth said.

Originally published as Firefighters battle house fire in Darling Heights, Toowoomba