12 May 2020

Fires at Queanbeyan and Phillip this morning keep crews busy

| Michael Weaver
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ACT Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters from ACT Fire and Rescue. Photo: File.

A house in Queanbeyan has been destroyed and a 67-year-old man is in hospital following a fire in the early hours of this morning.

Just after 1:30 am today (12 May), fire and rescue crews from Queanbeyan and Canberra responded to a number of triple-zero calls reporting a house on fire at Boronia Crescent in Karabar.

When the crew from Queanbeyan Fire and Rescue arrived, the call was made for additional resources from Fyshwick and Chisholm fire stations.

The house was engulfed in fire and crews had to quickly switch from an offensive to a defensive strategy due to the structural collapse of the home.

A 67-year-old man was treated at the scene and taken to Canberra Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Boronia Street remains closed this morning while a crew from Queanbeyan Fire and Rescue extinguished the deep-seated pockets of fire remaining within the structure.

Officers from Monaro Police are conducting investigations with firefighters to establish the cause of the fire.

Another fire was also extinguished early this morning at The Woden Hotel on the corner of Melrose Drive and Launceston Street at Phillip.

A 32-year-old man has been questioned by police regarding a number of fires that were subsequently lit in Phillip between 5:25 am and 6:05 am.

ACT Fire and Rescue was called to a fire at the hotel at about 5:15 am. The fire was extinguished and deemed suspicious.

No one was inside the hotel at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

A second fire was extinguished at the Woden Bus Interchange at about 5:20 am.

A further five small fires were discovered at various locations outside the shopping centre.

The man was apprehended by police at about 12pm.

ACT police and ambulance officers were also in attendance, while hazmat crews conducted atmospheric monitoring to determine if toxic smoke particles had been released.

Launceston Street was closed and people have been advised to avoid the area.

Crews extinguished the blaze after 6:00 am but remained on the scene inspecting the building for damage.

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