Investigation ends into fire that gutted home near Gympie West

A woman whose home was destroyed by fire 200m from a Gympie primary school has made a heartfelt post to social media in the wake of the disaster. WATCH THE VIDEO

Fire investigators said on Monday they were unable to determine the cause of a devastating house fire which gutted a home in Gympie in early August.

Investigators had visited the home twice following the blaze which left the two-storey brick building at Cartwright Rd a charred husk on Wednesday, August 3.

They visited the home on Thursday and Friday but had been unable to establish what sparked the blaze “due to the structural damage”, a QFES spokeswoman said.

The investigation was now closed, she said.

It wound up as the owner of the house, Leonie Krause took to social media to thank the community for its outpouring of support.

Ms Krause was out shopping when her home caught fire.

Fire investigators had been unable to determine the cause of a fire which gutted a suburban Gympie home on Wednesday August 3, 2022.

She returned to find it fully engulfed with firefighters frantically working to extinguish the flames and salvage what they could.

In a social media post two days after the fire, Ms Krause said she “couldn’t believe” what she was witnessing upon her return from the shops.

“This is the first major disaster I have faced in my life,” she said.

“My house burnt down.

“First thank you to all the first responders.

“I wasn‘t there but I am so glad that you protected the surrounding houses and did your best for me.

“When I did arrive everyone was so kind.

“I couldn’t believe what was happening, still don’t to a big extent.

Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze at the Gympie home for more than an hour.

“But the kindness of strangers has made this nightmare bearable.

“I am so happy I live in Gympie.”

The home was destroyed in the fire that engulfed the two storey brick building about 200m from the Gympie West Primary School and Cartwright Rd tennis centre just before midday.

Ms Krause collapsed in the street in tears when she returned from shopping to find smoke and flames pouring from her home.

Firefighters worked for almost an hour to bring the blaze under control.

Small explosions continued to emanate from within the home as crews worked to dampen the blaze.

The heartbreaking moment a Gympie woman returned from shopping to find her home had been completely engulfed in flames on Wednesday. Photo: Scott Kovacevic

She was comforted at the scene by police and neighbours as she sat on the gutter near her home at the corner of Pine St and Cartwright Rd.

Neighbours, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were having lunch when they heard sirens.

She was taken into a neighbour’s home by emergency service workers.

Explosions could be heard from the Cartwright Rd home after it was engulfed in flames on Wednesday, August 3. Photo: Supplied

The building was completely engulfed in flames by 11.45am, and the roof had caved in.

No-one was home at the time.

Originally published as Investigation ends into fire that gutted home near Gympie West