02-05-2025
Police treat fatal Bowen backpackers' hostel fire as suspicious
A French backpacker has described his escape from a fatal fire in a backpackers' hostel in north Queensland, as police confirm they are treating the blaze as suspicious.
Investigators are yet to formally identify remains found in the Bowen hostel hours after the blaze, which took hold the day new owners were due to take over the business.
Paul Hamache said he was asleep in one of Barnacle Backpackers two neighbouring buildings when his friend woke him in the early hours of Wednesday.
"I just came out from my room and the flame was just in front of me," Mr Hamache said.
"
The fire was really big. I have never seen something like this, so it was crazy for us because we didn't really know what's happened.
"
Paul Hamache says he faced big flames escaping the fire.
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ABC Tropical North: Bryn Wakefield
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Firefighters called to the scene about 3:30am found the Queenslander-style building neighbouring where Mr Hamache was staying engulfed in flames.
"It was a bit scary … I could see flames. We moved our stuff quickly because we didn't want it burnt," Mr Hamache said.
It was not until late Wednesday afternoon that crews found the remains of a person in a room thought to have been vacant.
Firefighters dampen down the Bowen hostel.
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ABC Tropical North: Bryn Wakefield
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"Emergency services were able to respond quite quickly and evacuate the premises and all known persons from the premises were accounted for," Detective Acting Inspector Luke Jackson said.
"It's only after we've been able to conduct an examination of the scene once it was safe enough to do so that we've identified these unknown remains that weren't expected to be there."
The body is yet to be formally identified.
Specialist heavy lifting equipment was brought in to help fire scene investigators access the site to determine the cause.
Police have been at the scene of the Bowen hostel fire.
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ABC Tropical North: Bryn Wakefield
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"We treat this fire as suspicious, 100 per cent," Detective Acting Inspector Jackson said.
"Police are conducting a thorough investigation and they've interviewed a number of persons and are taking statements."
The couple set to take ownership of the backpackers' hostel said the business was due to change hands on Wednesday.
Detective Acting Inspector Jackson said he could not comment on whether the hostel had met fire safety standards.
A crime scene has been declared at the Bowen hostel.
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ABC Tropical North: Bryn Wakefield
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Mr Hamache had only recently returned to Bowen after working in the town two years ago.
He said the incident would not change his plans.
"It's just a bit weird," he said.
"[But] I know this place, I love this place. It's so beautiful."
