A woman and her six-year-old child remain unaccounted for and a man aged in his 40s was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation after fire ripped through a unit complex on Queensland’s Gold Coast early this morning.
Police said they received multiple triple zero calls after the fire erupted in Biggera Waters about 1:30am and when they arrived, one of the units was already engulfed in flames.
Senior Sergeant Brett Macgibbon said officers evacuated residents from neighbouring units but were unable to find the missing pair.
“The fire was very extensive at that stage and police were unable unfortunately to get into the unit,” he said.
“The fire was just horrendous when we’ve arrived, massive flames coming out of all the windows, neighbours were actually giving us ladders to try and convince us to go in.
“However it was just extremely dangerous and no-one could have gone into that unit.
“We have concerns for a 33-year-old woman and her six-year-old child that are also resident in the address.”
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said six crews were needed to contain the blaze.
Half of the eight units at the complex sustained severe structural damage.
Several fire crews remained at the scene.
QFES Inspector Kerry Cumner said the extent of the fire had made evacuations and fighting the fire extremely challenging.
“We gained external access reasonably quick, but we had a bit of trouble gaining internal access to start working back to the seat of the fire,” Inspector Cumner said.
“Because of how involved the fire was … at this stage we’ve been unable to ascertain where the fire could have started.”
Senior Sergeant Macgibbon said a crime scene had been declared.
“The damage to the structure of the building has made it difficult for a police investigation to begin,” he said.
“The building … started collapsing — obviously we still haven’t been able to get in.
“The roof we believe is asbestos as well, which is going to be an ongoing issue … for investigators as we go forward.”
Emergency services are hoping they will be able to conduct a thorough search of the burnt-out unit later today.
The post Fears for mother, child missing after fire in Gold Coast unit complex appeared first on The New Daily.
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