Person missing, another critically ill after building blaze
A fire blanketed Brisbane's CBD in smoke and a man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries. Photo: Nine Network screengrab
One person is missing and another is fighting for life in hospital after a building blaze that blanketed Brisbane’s CBD in smoke.
Emergency crews were called to a burning property on Hubert Street in Woolloongabba about 4.30pm on Wednesday.
Surrounding roads including Gibbon, Stanley, Raid and Hawthorne streets were closed with police making an emergency declaration.
A man was taken by ambulance to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital suffering from life-threatening airway burns.
Specialist police were examining the scene on Thursday amid reports another person was unaccounted for.
The fire caused structural collapse in the building where it started, partial collapse and extensive damage to a second building and smoke damage to a third.
Recently renovated wedding venue The Lussh occupies one of the adjacent buildings.
“Well, this sucks. We are devastated by the events of this afternoon and extremely thankful that our team is safe,” the venue posted on Instagram.
“Our hearts go out to our Woolloongabba community and all those affected by the fire that broke out from a neighbouring building earlier today.”
The venue said several of its staff were inside the building when the blaze broke out. None was injured.
More than a dozen fire crews tackled the blaze as it continued to burn into the night. A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said it was brought under control just after 9pm on Wednesday.
Three crews remained at the scene,
The public was advised to avoid the area and those within the exclusion zone were asked to remain indoors until further notice.
-with AAP
