Australia Fair fire: hundreds of shoppers evacuated as blaze breaks out inside shopping centre

Australia Fair Shopping Centre has partially reopened after being evacuated when an electrical fire broke out in the complex. WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

Australia Fair Shopping Centre has partially reopened after being evacuated when an electrical fire broke out in the complex.

The fire broke out just after 8am, with shoppers fleeing the centre, which had only reopened on Sunday after the impact of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred had forced its closure.

The fire is understood to have broken out near or in the cinema area.

The centre reopened shortly before noon, with the section of the centre fronting Scarborough St – where the cinema is located – fenced off from the public.

The section of Australia Fair Shopping Centre in Southport on the Gold Coast where a fire broke out on Monday, March 10, 2025. Picture: Andrew Potts

The acrid smell of the electrical fire is still present throughout the building, with many retailers remaining closed.

Scarborough Street was blocked off with a massive emergency services response shortly after the fire broke out.

Hundred of shoppers flooded into the streets and the pouring rain during the evacuation.

Hundred of shoppers are flooding into the streets Southport with a fire breaking out inside Australia Fair Shopping Centre. Picture: Andrew Potts

Australia Fair Shopping Centre in Southport on the Gold Coast was evacuated on the morning of March 10, 2025 after an electrical fire broke out. Picture: Andrew Potts

Australia Fair Metro remained open but the skybridge to the main part of the complex was blocked during the emergency, which saw firefighters with respirator gear sent in to bring the fire under control.

A firefighter told the Bulletin there had been significant smoke in the upper floors of the centre.

“We have a lot of smoke to clear. It’s going to take a few hours before we are finished,” she said shortly after officers arrived on-scene.

Southport residents Josh Jensen and Brock Jones were shopping at Australia Fair Shopping Centre when it was evacuated due to a fire on March 10, 2025. Picture: Andrew Potts

Shoppers Josh Jensen and Brock Jones were inside Australia Fair when the evacuation alerts began ringing out.

“The alarms went off, we could smell smoke and not just smoke but a burning,” Mr Jones said.

“There was a big electrical fire in one of the shops.”

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— Andrew Potts (@GCS_Pottsy) March 9, 2025

Mr Jensen said centre staff reacted quickly to the emergency.

“Security was running through the centre yelling ‘evacuate, evacuate’ and we (initially) thought it was a false alarm,” he said.

“Then security was running and so was everyone else to get out.

“The coppers told us they don’t know when it will reopen.”

Emergency services are in Southport responding to a fire inside Australia Fair Shopping Centre. Picture: Andrew Potts

Originally published as Australia Fair fire: hundreds of shoppers evacuated as blaze breaks out inside shopping centre