One dead after fire destroys backpackers at Bowen
A body has been discovered after a devastating fire tore through a backpacker hostel in a popular tourist town. The shocking find comes after everyone inside was first thought to be accounted for. LATEST.
Police & Courts
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A crime scene has been declared, and police are working to identify a body found in a burnt-out backpacker hostel at Bowen in Queensland’s north.
Police confirmed on Wednesday night the grim discovery was made after authorities initially believed those inside had been accounted for and evacuated safely.
“Further searches of the property located a body, and forensic examination is underway to identify the deceased,” a Queensland Police Service statement read.
“Anyone who may have witnessed anything, or has dashcam or CCTV from the area, is urged to contact investigators.”
It comes after residents woke to a “really scary” sight on Wednesday morning after the Barnacles Backpackers on Gordon St was destroyed by a fire, forcing up to eight people to flee.
Emergency crews were called just before 3.30am with three fire crews on scene about 3.40am.
It took about an hour to extinguish the flames with a Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman confirming the fire was under control by 4.46am as crews dampened down hot spots.
She said the building was “gutted” and there had been a partial collapse.
Paramedics were called but at the time, believed all occupants had been accounted for and no one needed to be taken to hospital.
A resident on the same street said it was “really scary” but that they did not have to be evacuated when the fire broke out.
“I think we’re far enough away,” she said.
“It was quite big, quite scary.
“I’d say if they wanted us to go, they would have said but they had it well and truly covered.
“The response was good.”
It’s understood residents heard explosions and a “whistling sound” before the blaze broke out.
Carolyn Forster lived two streets away from the backpackers and said the sirens woke her in the early morning and she noticed a “fire chemical smell”.
From her back patio she said she could see “huge flames up above the trees”.
“It was about that time we heard the explosions/big bangs going off,” she said.
“Probably just went for a few minutes with the explosions, some quite loud and some more just like fireworks going off.
“I was totally shocked how quickly the fire got huge from hearing the sirens to seeing huge flames above the big trees.
“Hoping those who were affected have somewhere to go.”
Police remained on scene on Wednesday night.
Earlier, Officer in Charge Craig Shepherd said the site was now a crime scene and subject to an ongoing investigation.
“Our crew attended and found the place on fire,” he said.
“The place has been written off and burned down.
“There was about eight people in the building at the time, they were self-evacuated, police confirmed all the residents were out of the building.”
Local resident Madi Aspinall said she saw the building on fire at around 3.30am when it was just a “glow in the sky”.
“Then I took my photo at 3.40 and it was fully engulfed,” she said.
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Originally published as One dead after fire destroys backpackers at Bowen
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