Fire crews battle house fire on Chapman Drive, Beenleigh

The 76-year-old owner of a property south of Brisbane has told how he fought a major fire that destroyed his home with a garden hose, but ultimately ended up losing all his possessions.

The 76-year-old owner of a Beenleigh property has told how he valiantly fought a major fire with a garden hose, but ultimately ended up losing all his possessions.

The well-involved fire took about five hours to put out, after it ignited following reports of a loud bang.

Eight Queensland Fire Department crews rushed to the single-story house at Chapman Drive, Beenleigh about 9.30am to find it engulfed in flames.

It was finally brought under control about 11.55am and was extinguished at 2.15pm.

Owner Antoni Karjewski made it out safely, but neighbours say he has lost everything.

“I smelled a bit of smoke, I went to have a look and it (the fire) was already very big,” Mr Karjewski told Seven News.

“I went down with the hose, but the fire was a big size.”

Neighbour Peter Robinson said Mr Karjewski had “lost everything”.

“The poor bugger, you don’t wish that on anybody, he has lost everything, he has lost his cars, he’s lost his house, it’s all gone,” Mr Robinson told Seven News Brisbane.

The fire ripped off the roof and charred the interior of the home, while smoke covered Chapman Drive and spread to nearby streets.

Firefighters attack the flames from above. Picture: Grace Koo

Neighbour Dillon Vardy said he heard a loud “bang” when the fire broke out.

“That fire started with a big explosion,” he said. “It was so loud.”

He also said there were dark smoke, which produced a lot of heat.

His mother Joann said she had been neighbours with the homeowner for more than 20 years.

“We heard the noise, and then we heard the sirens and saw all the smoke,” she said.

“We just came out to see whether he’s OK, and then he’s OK.”

Nearby residents were urged to be aware of the smoke hazards and stay indoors.

The cause of the fire is unknown, with investigations continuing.

Originally published as Fire crews battle house fire on Chapman Drive, Beenleigh