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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Man charged with arson after house destroyed north of Brisbane

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 36-year-old man has been charged with arson as a domestic violence offense after a house was destroyed in Clontarf, north of Brisbane.
  • Police allege the man used accelerant to start the fire, which spread to two adjoining properties, but no one was physically injured.
  • Firefighters took about two hours to control the intense blaze, and nearby residents were urged to evacuate due to smoke.

A house in Clontarf, north of Brisbane, was destroyed by fire, leading to the arrest of a 36-year-old man on arson charges related to domestic violence.

He was located a short time later by a police dog squad unit.

— policedescribing the apprehension of the suspect.

Police allege the man intentionally started the fire using accelerant around 1:50 p.m. on Friday. The blaze quickly intensified, consuming the house and spreading to two neighboring properties. Fortunately, no physical injuries were reported.

Queensland Fire Department Superintendent Mark Halverson described the fire as "severely intense," requiring 34 firefighters approximately two hours to bring under control. The rapid spread threatened further dwellings, highlighting the firefighters' efforts to contain the damage.

The fire in the three houses that have been affected was severely intense, and they had to do a great job to stop the spread to further dwellings.

— Mark HalversonQueensland Fire Department Superintendent, describing the intensity of the blaze and the firefighters' efforts.

An emergency declaration was issued due to the heavy smoke, prompting nearby residents to evacuate their homes. Acting Inspector Jason Higgs stated that police were responding to an alleged domestic violence disturbance when the fire was reported. The accused man, from Dakabin, is facing one count of arson as a domestic violence offense and is scheduled to appear in Redcliffe Magistrates Court on Monday, June 1.

Police were en route to an alleged domestic violence-related disturbance when it was reported the house was on fire.

— Acting Inspector Jason Higgsexplaining the circumstances leading up to the discovery of the fire.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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