A pile of towels ignited in a Stafford orthodontist’s office, causing a fire that prompted swift action from emergency services in the northern Brisbane suburb early in the morning.
Emergency services responded to a structure fire report at the intersection of Crawford Ave and Stafford Rd around 3:15 am on 19 July 2024. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the ceiling of a shop within the shopping complex.
Upon entering the premises, fire crews discovered a large pile of towels ablaze. They quickly extinguished the fire and checked adjoining shops for potential fire and smoke damage. The fire was successfully contained to the orthodontist’s office.
A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman reported that smoke heavily affected the entire building, with the orthodontist’s shop being particularly smoke-logged. Thankfully, no one was inside the building when the fire broke out.
Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics were on standby at the scene. Queensland Police Service officers managed traffic control, closing Crawford Ave and both eastbound lanes on Stafford Road during the incident.
Queensland Fire Department investigators have been notified of the incident and will likely conduct a thorough examination to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The early morning blaze caused temporary disruptions to local traffic and businesses in the area. However, the quick response from emergency services prevented the fire from spreading to other shops in the complex, minimising potential damage and ensuring community safety.
Published 22-July-2024