Witnesses of a house fire in Laidley Heights have described the intense scenes as people tried to save pets and check for occupants. Police have now declared a crime scene. SEE THE VIDEO
Footage of house fire in Laidley Heights on Tuesday evening. Video courtesy of Tom Chalker
Seven fire crews attended the home on Lakes Drive Tuesday, where neighbours watch on in shock.
Witnesses described the scene, telling of perilous pet rescues and overwhelming black smoke and smells.
Tom Chalker was one of the first on the scene and filmed the blaze, and said a passing good Samaritan had jumped in to save the two dogs that lived in the home.
The footage filmed by Mr Chalker showed the house billowing with black smoke, while another person at the scene described their efforts to check the home for people.
“We banged on the windows, we were banging hard but it was getting pretty hot,” the neighbour said.
Another neighbour, Leanne Tremain, who lives behind the property said they heard several loud explosions.
“There was a lot of smoke and a couple of loud explosions, the air smelled like plastic,” she said.
“I was alerted to the fire by a lady who was coming to buy my freezer as she had rescued two of the ladies’ dogs.”
Police are still investigating and the fire is being treated as suspicious.
A crime scene was declared by detectives from the Gatton Investigation Branch after fire destroyed a home at Laidley Heights on Tuesday afternoon.
Fire crews battled for more than half an hour to bring a house fire under control.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service crews were first alerted to the blaze about 4.15pm, with seven crews attending Lakes Drive.
A QFES spokeswoman said when crews arrived they found the house “well involved” in fire with smoke issuing from the low-set residential home.
Firefighters at put out the blaze at the Laidley Heights home.
The blaze was brought under control by 4.50pm with fire crews conducting a primary search of the building.
The QFES spokeswoman said it was understood no one was home at the time, and all occupants of the house were accounted for, with the cause of the fire to be probed by the QFES fire investigation unit.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said paramedics were on scene but there were no reports of any patients being treated.
Police said overnight they would remain at the scene until fire investigators can arrive and work to determine the cause of the fire.
Investigations are continuing.
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