Mackay crews called to back to back fires on Palmer St

Mackay fire crews were called to back to back fires about 100m apart overnight that police are treating as deliberate, with a man now in custody.

Burnt out car in a carport on Palmer St, North Mackay, following an overnight fire on March 2, 2025. Police have taken a man into custody and are treating it as suspicious. Picture: Fergus Gregg

A car was destroyed and unit damaged in two separate allegedly deliberate fires barely 100m apart in North Mackay, with a man now in custody

Both fires occurred on Palmer St within about an hour on Sunday March 2, and police are treating both fires as suspicious and linked.

A man, 40, is currently “assisting police with enquiries” after being taken into custody near Palmer St, police said.

He has not been charged with any crime.

The first involved a car in a carport about 10.11pm.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said two fire crews were called to the scene, arriving to find the vehicle “well alight under the carport”.

The spokeswoman said there had also been a separate triple-0 call stating the blaze had spread to the carport.

Police tape set up outside a construction site on Palmer St, North Mackay. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The fire was out by 11.10pm, and barely 10 minutes later one of the crews was called to another fire at a nearby unit block.

It is understood the unit was about 100m away from the first fire.
The QFD spokeswoman said two crews arrived on scene with the fire at a second floor unit and involving an electrical box.

It was quickly doused and crews worked to clear the unit of smoke.

It is understood the unit has fire damage.
No one was injured as either fire incident.

Originally published as Mackay crews called to back to back fires on Palmer St