2 days ago
‘Crikey': Huge inferno locks down suburb
A massive factory fire at a storage facility has sent a Queensland suburb into lockdown overnight and left one person hospitalised.
Fire crews responded to the blaze at a Storage King warehouse on Old Gympie Road in Burpengary at about 6pm on Wednesday.
A huge volume of smoke quickly engulfed the surrounding area, including the neighbouring Bruce Highway. The fire affected traffic along the Bruce Highway. Russell Young via Facebook Credit: Supplied
Witness Dylan Moore told Channel 9 that he saw the huge cloud of smoke on his way home, describing the blaze as 'an explosion'.
'I was like, okay, this - crikey, this ain't good. It's on the west side of the building ... a bunch of smoke pouring out,' he said.
Police made an emergency declaration just after 7pm as crews responded to the blaze, creating an exclusion zone around the area. The area locked down under the PSPA declaration in Burpengary. Queensland Police Service Credit: Supplied
The zone took in New Settlement Road, Pitt Road, Bellini Road, Twists Road and Old Bay Road.
Members of the public were advised to avoid the area, which is about 39km north of Brisbane, while residents were told to remain indoors and close their windows.
The emergency declaration was revoked just after 2am on Thursday.
At least 75 firefighters from 26 crews fought the blaze, which was filmed by dozens of motorists on their commute home.
A 67-year-old woman who lived nearby is reported to have been hospitalised in a stable condition due to smoke inhalation.
Investigations are ongoing.
