26 June 2013

Fire in Civic (Bega Court)

| johnboy
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This photo by Hasin:

fire

This coming in from the ESA:

ACT Fire & Rescue are conducting firefighting operations on Cooyong Street, Braddon, Bega Court Flats.

Update to follow.

2:19 PM

ACT Fire & Rescue are continuing to extinguish the fire on the second and third floors.

Four fire pumpers on scene, the Breathing Apparatus Van, the Bronto Skylift Hydraulic Platform and a Command Officer.

2:26 PM

ACT Ambulance Service intensive care paramedics are also on scene and have treated one female patient with burns to hands.

One male patient assessed for smoke inhalation, with two other patients also assessed.

Update to follow.

2:33 PM

Fire has been extinguished.

Extensive damage to two units on the second and third floors.

Crews currently conducting ventilation operations.

2:41 PM

Correction – ACT Ambulance Service intensive care paramedics have treated and assessed a total of three patients.

One female patient was treated for burns to her hands and smoke inhalation and was taken to The Canberra Hospital.

One male treated for smoke inhalation and will be taken to Calvary Hospital.

One other male patient was assessed and transport to hospital was not required.

3:00 PM


fire

James has sent this pic in first.

More as it comes to hand.

If you have pictures or video send them in to images@the-riotact.com .


Deskmonkey sent this one in:

deskmonkey pic

This in from Dominic from the Canberra Centre car park:

fire scene

Barcham was down for the aftermath:

barcham

FURTHER UPDATE: We’re seeing reports of an explosion causing the fire. Will update as it comes to hand.


UPDATE:

Police have put up the following release:

Police investigate suspicious fire
Release Date: Tuesday, June 25 2013, 04:30 PM

ACT Policing is investigating a suspicious fire at the Bega Court flats in Reid this afternoon (June 25).

About 2pm police attended Block 7 of the Bega Court flats after reports of a fire and explosion.

The fire was extinguished and initial assessment by fire investigators deemed the fire as suspicious.

A female resident was taken to The Canberra Hospital suffering burns to her hands and smoke inhalation, while a male was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to Calvary Hospital.

AFP Forensic Services will work with ACT Criminal Investigations to determine the cause of the fire.

Police would urge anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in or around the Reid area to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au. Information to Crime Stoppers can be provided anonymously.


UPDATE:

xtamatic sent in a big set including this one:

Took these today, some from before the fire and police got there.

fire

Here’s the full slideshow, send them in to images@the-riotact.com .

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trix said :

Yeah, I’d have to concur that some of the people on this thread are more “subhuman” than those living in Bega Court.

I grew up in public housing. Now I earn 6 figures (before the decimal point) and pay pretty damn good taxes. So screw you too, for anyone who says that all or even most people in govvie housing spend their days “huffing paint and superglue”.

It’s quite simple. Nobody is saying every last person living in public housing is a parasite or criminal. But the proportion of them are clearly much higher than outside of public housing. Blocks like this are an epicentre for burglaries and muggings and those with no intention of ever moving off Centrelink and free housing. I personally cannot see why able bodied men and women in their 20s and 30s should be able to stay in these places indefinitely. Reserve them mostly for pensioners and the truly needy and the crime would go away.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd10:56 pm 26 Jun 13

poetix said :

Mr Evil said :

poetix said :

[It’s like Jesus never happened around here sometimes. (And to all the atheists, please don’t bother.)

I blame Jesus for this fire. After all, if Jesus is so all-knowing, compassionate and loving, why did he let this happen?

Jesus never said that bad things won’t happen. That’s a sad, rather limited, view of Christianity. This lady is worth listening to again, for her grace under fire (literally), combined with the realistic assessment of the problems she is experiencing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaAd8OuwwPk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

As to this fire, just be grateful that no-one was killed. The question is how we respond, not that bad events occur.

Thank you for your trolling, as it allowed me to think about these things a little more.

Seriously not trolling, but if god is all so powerful, then he/she/it is the hugest pos ever. Hitler, Stalin, Hussein Etc Etc are lil angels compared to god just for the simple fact of letting there be so much misery in this world.

If Jesus did exist as the bible says, then yeah, he was a rad dude, but his father? Well no, has done far more damage than satan ever will.

Disclaimer: I believe science proves any form if religion is balls yet I do have pretty good knowledge of all religions, especially Catholicism.

Mr Evil said :

poetix said :

[It’s like Jesus never happened around here sometimes. (And to all the atheists, please don’t bother.)

I blame Jesus for this fire. After all, if Jesus is so all-knowing, compassionate and loving, why did he let this happen?

Jesus never said that bad things won’t happen. That’s a sad, rather limited, view of Christianity. This lady is worth listening to again, for her grace under fire (literally), combined with the realistic assessment of the problems she is experiencing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaAd8OuwwPk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

As to this fire, just be grateful that no-one was killed. The question is how we respond, not that bad events occur.

Thank you for your trolling, as it allowed me to think about these things a little more.

poetix said :

[It’s like Jesus never happened around here sometimes. (And to all the atheists, please don’t bother.)

I blame Jesus for this fire. After all, if Jesus is so all-knowing, compassionate and loving, why did he let this happen?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd8:27 pm 26 Jun 13

AgentK said :

I used to live in Allawah (Opposite Bega – Other side of Ainslie Ave).
It was a home to me as a child.

I resent the negative assumptions being made here about people in public housing. I’m educated, employed, law abiding and make a positive contribution toward society.

I lived there with my single parent mother because of her financial limitations at the time.

That burning flat could easily have been ours. Can I point out that belongs to someone?
Someone who is likely to be struggling and have now lost everything.

Show some respect please.

It belongs to the government,,,

Also, bogans need to learn about respect. Just because you ask for respect doesn’t mean you get it. You need to earn it. The sooner self entitled assholes learn this the better.

Disclaimer: I am not accusing you of a self entitled asshole or a bogan, but demanding respect is not a good start to our relationship?

Good on you for getting out of allawah, but don’t defend the other scum in there. Many have been living there since you were a kid.

Nice scoop, RA!

As for the comments, they rather highlight the paradoxes at the centre of public housing today.

The inner city public housing estates were originally built partly to accommodate public servants moving to a place with not enough housing, and partly just for low income residents. However, providing heavily subsidised housing to drug addicts, alcoholics and habitual criminals was not on the list of priorities.

Today, there is an unfortunate mix of genuine battlers and the dregs of society in these places, sitting in locations that are now very desirable and expensive for anyone else to live in. The whole rationale of public housing needs a massive rethink.

Struggling sole parents and age pensioners live in fear and discomfort; the worse people behave the more their compliant social workers and court advocates make excuses for them; and ACT ratepayers are subsidising lowlifes to live in prime locations to the tune of many millions of dollars a year, while families with kids sleep on couches or in their cars.

Thanks to the cost-saving “care in the community” dumping of people with mental illnesses since the 1980s, public housing has also picked up another segment of the community who were not at all intended for public housing in its original form.

It is staggering that the richest jurisdiction in Australia has either the highest, or perhaps 2nd highest (after South Australia) percentage of public housing. It’s an historical anomaly.

Time for a major rethink, and getting rid of perverse incentives – like, the worse you behave, the more you get – should be a key consideration.

I do find some people’s indignation rather amusing. I suspect even the most strident hater of that complex would still admit that many, perhaps most of the residents are decent enough people, but believe that there is a substantial amount of deadwood there.

When I met my wife she was a poor student working two part time jobs and living at the infamous Burnie Court. Her bedsit was broken in to a couple of times and she frequently had guys banging on her door at odd times because they had mistaken her door for the one belonging to the lady of negotiable affection next door. She has worked hard and become a productive member of society, but would be one of the first to say that the government made a mistake by letting some of the denizens escape before they bulldozed Burnie Court. She certainly wouldn’t get upset by anyone claiming that the complex was a haven for lowlife scum.

The judgement by many of the posters here is a bit sad. Sure, some residents will be no hopers, but at least some will be people who are there through no fault of their own or at least now are trying to make their lives better or make a positive contribution to the community. The sweeping statements here would have no effect on the no hopers and would be extremely dispiriting to everyone else in those flats (or in any other public housing for that matter).

I find it ironic too, in a town like Canberra, that some of the judgemental posters here would be current or former public servants who have probably never reflected as to whether they themselves could ever have worked that little bit harder for their take of the tax payer dollar.

p1 said :

These flats are the perfect example of where the ACT Gov could do a deal with a developer, where by they demolish the existing flats, build nice, huge modern towers with three times as many apartments, and then the ACT Gov randomly picks one third of them for themselves, which are then used to replace the demolished public housing.

Of course, you would need somewhere to house the current tenants when you move them out, and you would have to convince the government of the day to do something which is essentially putting a large capital input into public housing, so I can’t actually see it ever happening.

Wasn’t that the plan with Burnie Court re-development?

These flats are the perfect example of where the ACT Gov could do a deal with a developer, where by they demolish the existing flats, build nice, huge modern towers with three times as many apartments, and then the ACT Gov randomly picks one third of them for themselves, which are then used to replace the demolished public housing.

Of course, you would need somewhere to house the current tenants when you move them out, and you would have to convince the government of the day to do something which is essentially putting a large capital input into public housing, so I can’t actually see it ever happening.

Ok let me put it another way.

These apartments are an eyesore. It seems like the Government doesn’t care how the residents treat the property based on the stench and filth that surrounds the area. I’m assuming that all of these flats are Govie properties and none are privately owned.

What I don’t understand is why the government insists on keeping these premises. The tenants are probably only paying upwards of $100 a week on land worth millions. Selling the land and building something better elsewhere to me seems like the logical choice. After all look at the Glebe Park apts or the newly built Manhattan (?) near the casino. All renting for a min of $500 a week.

Perhaps I’m just being a sour puss because the Government doesn’t give me everything like these people get. I actually go out and work for a living to pay my rent and bills, while my tax supports the vast majority of dole bludgers getting a rent subsidy.

DrKoresh said :

Grimm said :

poetix said :

So little sympathy because it’s public housing?

Exactly. The residents of Bega flats will be treated like humans when they behave like humans.

I doubt the fumes will be a concern for people who spend their day huffing paint and super glue.

Go play in traffic, you white trash moron, I’ve never heard such ingnorant shite.

May you be bashed and mugged by one of the animals living in Bega flats.

I love it when people try to pretend the inhabitants of Bega flats are all nice, well adjusted, contributing members of society.

Unless you are a total moron, you know that those flats are one of the places they deliberately put the dregs of society.

Genie said :

These flats are an eyesore and should be demolished. Shame about the fire and it being someone’s home. But why should public housing tenants get prime real estate while I struggle to find somewhere affordable to live and have to travel 45mins plus to get to work, while my tax pays for them to do nothing.

Because when those flats where built, living in the city like that was for lower socioeconomic people. Back then living out in the suburbs with the big backyard was where it was at. It’s only been in recent years that living in the CBD has become a desirable thing.

Genie said :

These flats are an eyesore and should be demolished. Shame about the fire and it being someone’s home. But why should public housing tenants get prime real estate while I struggle to find somewhere affordable to live and have to travel 45mins plus to get to work, while my tax pays for them to do nothing.

Why shouldn’t they? Just because they are poor, for whatever reason, doesn’t mean they should be out in the sticks. At least they can walk to the shops and get free entertainment watching people try to drive down Bunda Street. They are also near to some of the services they may require, and the buses. It may be that better housing could be built, but that’s a different issue.

As to those laughing at the tenants’ losses, it is probably more significant to these people than to those in a properly insured house, who could, in many cases, afford a few weeks paying rent elsewhere.

It’s like Jesus never happened around here sometimes. (And to all the atheists, please don’t bother.)

Genie said :

But why should public housing tenants get prime real estate while I struggle to find somewhere affordable to live and have to travel 45mins plus to get to work, while my tax pays for them to do nothing.

maybe beacuse a) they were there and built into relatively early planning, before such far flung haunts as woden and cook were built; and b) the socio-ecominocally stressed residents are less able to afford the commute costs that you could bear to pursue employment to sustain or advance their circumstances..?

These flats are an eyesore and should be demolished. Shame about the fire and it being someone’s home. But why should public housing tenants get prime real estate while I struggle to find somewhere affordable to live and have to travel 45mins plus to get to work, while my tax pays for them to do nothing.

thebrownstreak69 said :

Someone’s home gets burnt out and we crack jokes about it. Nasty stuff, I thought this place was better than that.

Hell no…..

The Blood-Hound Gang wrote a rather prophetic song about this very scenario:

The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire.
We don’t need no water let the mother *ahem* burn.
Burn mother *ahem*, burn!

thebrownstreak6910:13 am 26 Jun 13

Someone’s home gets burnt out and we crack jokes about it. Nasty stuff, I thought this place was better than that.

Mysteryman said :

DrKoresh said :

Grimm said :

poetix said :

So little sympathy because it’s public housing?

Exactly. The residents of Bega flats will be treated like humans when they behave like humans.

I doubt the fumes will be a concern for people who spend their day huffing paint and super glue.

Go play in traffic, you white trash moron, I’ve never heard such ingnorant shite.

Take your own advice, you racist dolt.

Fight fight fight!

“Obama widens the net with a drone strike in Braddon.”

I always thought these flast reminded me of downtown Lebanon. Now they do even moreso.

With the US army’s legendary inaccuracy, they could have been aiming for downtown Lebanon when they hit Braddon.

DrKoresh said :

Grimm said :

poetix said :

So little sympathy because it’s public housing?

Exactly. The residents of Bega flats will be treated like humans when they behave like humans.

I doubt the fumes will be a concern for people who spend their day huffing paint and super glue.

Go play in traffic, you white trash moron, I’ve never heard such ingnorant shite.

Take your own advice, you racist dolt.

trix said :

I grew up in public housing. Now I earn 6 figures (before the decimal point) and pay pretty damn good taxes. So screw you too, for anyone who says that all or even most people in govvie housing spend their days “huffing paint and superglue”.

So you now spend your time huffing cocaine?

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose

DrKoresh said :

Grimm said :

poetix said :

So little sympathy because it’s public housing?

Exactly. The residents of Bega flats will be treated like humans when they behave like humans.

I doubt the fumes will be a concern for people who spend their day huffing paint and super glue.

Go play in traffic, you white trash moron, I’ve never heard such ingnorant shite.

What? From your own keyboard?

Grimm said :

poetix said :

So little sympathy because it’s public housing?

Exactly. The residents of Bega flats will be treated like humans when they behave like humans.

I doubt the fumes will be a concern for people who spend their day huffing paint and super glue.

Go play in traffic, you white trash moron, I’ve never heard such ingnorant shite.

Yeah, I’d have to concur that some of the people on this thread are more “subhuman” than those living in Bega Court.

I grew up in public housing. Now I earn 6 figures (before the decimal point) and pay pretty damn good taxes. So screw you too, for anyone who says that all or even most people in govvie housing spend their days “huffing paint and superglue”.

Obama widens the net with a drone strike in Braddon.

c_c™ said :

Demolish the damn things

Yep, & move them all into your street.

I used to live in Allawah (Opposite Bega – Other side of Ainslie Ave).
It was a home to me as a child.

I resent the negative assumptions being made here about people in public housing. I’m educated, employed, law abiding and make a positive contribution toward society.

I lived there with my single parent mother because of her financial limitations at the time.

That burning flat could easily have been ours. Can I point out that belongs to someone?
Someone who is likely to be struggling and have now lost everything.

Show some respect please.

Reports of an explosion followed by a large fire.Hmm I wonder what they were cooking?

Been hoping for those places to be burned to the ground for years, not quite what I had in mind. You’d have to think with all the meth labs inside it would happen more often though.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd6:00 pm 25 Jun 13

LumpySpacePrincess said :

Lovely to see so much compassion. Coz clearly anyone who needs government housing is scum. There couldn’t possibly be any decent people in there o.O

From my own experiences, no, there is not. Scum ridden hole.

I’m just thinking about all the crap stored, seemingly forever, on those balconies – it’s a miracle the other flats didn’t go up as well.

Canberra Times is trying to make up for not being first by being sensationalist instead.

The headline: “blaze engulfs housing complex”

If only

Looks irreparable, get a dozer.

PBO said :

Was that the apartment that had the TV on 24/7 that you could see from the street?

No.That apartment was in the next block over.

http://the-riotact.com/tv-in-window-dodgy-flats-in-civic/6049

PBO said :

Was that the apartment that had the TV on 24/7 that you could see from the street? If it was a meth lab then some people will be sleeping easily tonight whether they want to or not.

It looks like the one that has a resident who likes to hoard things living inside – I enjoyed checking out what new crap was on the balcony when I have been waiting at the lights.

poetix said :

So little sympathy because it’s public housing?

Exactly. The residents of Bega flats will be treated like humans when they behave like humans.

I doubt the fumes will be a concern for people who spend their day huffing paint and super glue.

peebus said :

Our fire fighting budget must be a little lean at the moment, considering the fire hose from the tanker in pic #5 has massive holes in it just near the traffic light. Quality.

Our fire fighting budget is pretty good compared to a lot of places. Although it costs a fair bit to replace a hose each time some numpty runs one over.

Hyrdoponic explosion, several firefighters now suffering extreme munchies.

Flamin’ hell I hope Alf’s ok.

Was that the apartment that had the TV on 24/7 that you could see from the street? If it was a meth lab then some people will be sleeping easily tonight whether they want to or not.

So little sympathy because it’s public housing? I was in Civic at the time and the fumes were bad enough from there.

Very worrying if you live in the flats.

Holden Caulfield3:13 pm 25 Jun 13

By chance I just happened to drive past this a few moments ago. A bit of excitement for the afternoon. There were certainly plenty of plods about for the wide ranging road closures.

stormboy said :

Who reckons they should pour petrol on it

The smell of petrol would just attract the rest of the residents.

So, how much in compo, disability benefits and rebuilding is this going to cost taxpayers? Will we have to replace the meth lab equipment that was damaged too?

Inconvenient_Truth3:06 pm 25 Jun 13

Too much Breaking Bad for some people 😛 I hope no one died or got severe burns, then I can have a good laugh about the meth / drug lab related jokes haha

Wow, looks like it’s contained to one apartment… damn asbestos.

LumpySpacePrincess3:04 pm 25 Jun 13

Lovely to see so much compassion. Coz clearly anyone who needs government housing is scum. There couldn’t possibly be any decent people in there o.O

Our fire fighting budget must be a little lean at the moment, considering the fire hose from the tanker in pic #5 has massive holes in it just near the traffic light. Quality.

How many thousands worth of improvements I wonder

Rawhide Kid Part32:56 pm 25 Jun 13

Well done RiotACT. Beat all the local media to the post with pictures. Great job.

The bigger well done to our keen eyed readers with great news sense who took the photos and got them into us!

(But yes it’s nice to get a win)

johnboy said :

Barcham reports the smoke inhalee was looking well.

Naturally. It’s not like smoke inhalation in the middle of the day is out of the norm for a resident of the Bega Flats.

Meth labs can be very dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing

Demolish the damn things

More pix in and a slideshow.

Barcham reports the smoke inhalee was looking well.

I can hear developers cheering from here.

Who reckons they should pour petrol on it

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