Fire tears through heritage-listed hotel in city centre
Laine Clark |
A crime scene has been declared after a 126-year-old hotel was gutted by a blaze that shut down a city centre.
Emergency crews took almost seven hours to extinguish the fire at the heritage-listed Great Northern Hotel in Townsville, north Queensland, on Friday.
Two people were taken to hospital while crews fought to save neighbouring properties after the blaze erupted at the hotel, which had been closed since 2015 – due to a fire.
A crime scene was declared as emergency services investigated the fire’s cause after an exclusion zone in the city centre was lifted by police late on Friday.
“Traffic management remains in place due to concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building,” a Queensland Police statement said.
Fire crews first responded to reports of a large blaze about 6.15am and arrived to find the hotel “fully engulfed”.
An exclusion zone was declared spanning multiple streets as thick smoke covered the area, prompting warnings for people to stay away.
“Members of the public, including motorists, are advised to avoid the area and those within the exclusion zone are asked to remain indoors and close their windows until further notice,” a police statement said.
The hotel’s roof and second-storey floor collapsed during the blaze, which was extinguished by 1pm.
“Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties,” the Queensland Fire Department posted on social media.
The exclusion zone was finally lifted at 3.30pm.
Two people were taken to hospital in a stable condition – one with facial injuries and another for smoke inhalation.
Paramedics also treated a third person – a woman in her 40s – after smoke exacerbated an existing medical condition.
AAP