Search for answers after explosion levels home

Robyn Wuth | July 13, 2023

Police are still searching for a man feared dead after his home was destroyed in a fireball north of Brisbane. 

Investigators believe the explosion just after 1pm on Wednesday was caused when bottled gas ignited.

Emergency crews were met by towering plumes of dark smoke in the quiet gated community at Murrumba Downs, which was littered with debris.

Police evacuated neighbouring properties and closed surrounding streets while fire crews spent two hours working to extinguish the blaze.

Investigators said it was fortunate no other injuries were reported following the “substantial explosion”, with detectives yet to find the owner and sole occupant of the townhouse. 

Acting Detective Inspector Stephen Windsor said there were no concerns for community safety.

“We don’t believe that there’s anyone else involved in this matter,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“We don’t hold any other concerns and we are currently not looking for a suspect.”

Property records identified the owner of the townhouse as the same man who in recent weeks made social media posts outlining personal financial difficulties.

“My mortgage payments 15 months ago were 1200 and (now) just under 3000,” he wrote on Facebook.

Det Insp Windsor said it was clear the owner faced challenges. 

“The information I’ve been provided is that the male person has had some challenges and some current pressures in life,” he said. 

Police have declared a crime scene and forensic teams are combing through the rubble. 

“Scientific police who have trained in this area are slowly processing things, making sure that they can make sure that any evidence is located,” Det Insp Windsor said.

“They will do a thorough and complete search. I don’t have any time frame in terms of how long that will go for.”

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