Residents have been evacuated and an exclusion zone has been issued following a fire that has destroyed hundreds of storage facilities at Logan, south of Brisbane.
Live updates
‘Extensive’ damage to the building
By Gemma Ferguson
Mr Griffin described the L-shaped building’s damage as “extensive”.
“[It was] about 100 metres by 100 metres, we’ve lost two thirds of that,” he says.
While around 300 storage units were lost, he says the “hard work of our firefighters” resulted in a fire wall being established and hundreds of other units being saved.
Cause of blaze not known yet
By Gemma Ferguson
The inspector confirmed crews haven’t yet been able to investigate the cause of the fire.
Mr Griffin says the facility’s “shared ceiling space” impacted the fast speed with which the blaze developed.
He says at the fire’s peak, there were more than 50 firefighters present.
Crews can’t access units where fire started
By Gemma Ferguson
Mr Griffin says the four storage units, where the fire is believed to have started, are yet to be assessed.
“We have not been able to make access to those units as yet,” he said.
“We’re still in operational mode.”
Crews made ‘internal attack’ on fire
By Gemma Ferguson
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service inspector Chris Griffin says an “internal attack” was performed by crews.
He says they quickly moved into “defensive mode” to protect nearby structures.
Authorities are providing an update
By Bridget Judd
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service inspector Chris Griffin is providing an update on the situation.
He says when fire crews arrived, the building was already “well involved” and they were unable to contain the blaze.
Emergency services — including 17 firefighting crews — have been battling the blaze at the building on Kingston Road since 10pm on Thursday.
Queensland police made the emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) just before midnight.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service inspector Chris Griffin said it was a precarious situation.
“It really quickly became unsafe for our crews to be inside, so we’ve been defensive outside, protecting exposures,” he said.
“We have two fuel stations that were in very close vicinity, and multiple homes that also back onto the building as well, so we’ve been protecting those all night.”
An evacuation centre has been established at the Kingston Butter Factory.
‘I really hoped I could get through 2024 without any more devastation’
Mr Griffin said around 300 storage facilities have been destroyed, with 136 saved for now.
Local Lee Jamieson is worried his possession were among those lost.
“I really hoped I could get through 2024 without any more devastation,” he said, sharing that he recently lost both his mother and grandfather to cancer.
Tammy Robinson, who runs Formally Ever After, a charity that helps dress teens for celebratory occasions and balls, said from the pictures she has seen, “it will definitely be our unit” that’s impacted.
Ms Robinson choked back tears as she explained that over half of her stock may have been destroyed in the fire.
“What we’ve lost, we’ll be able to rebuild,” she told ABC Radio Brisbane.
“[Some people] have lost stuff in storage, that’s their whole house, that’s everything they own … it’s just a lot of emotion this morning.”
Hopes residents will return home this morning
First responders worked for seven hours to contain the blaze, with firefighters still on-scene extinguishing hot spots.
Homes on Kingston Road, Juers Road, Skyline Drive, Jacaranda Avenue and Hibiscus Street have been evacuated due to heavy smoke.
Authorities hope to move residents from the evacuation centre back to their homes this morning.
It’s expected checks on individual homes will be needed before some residents can return.
Traffic diversions remain in place, with police urging nearby residents to keep doors and windows closed and respiratory medication on hand.