A devastating house fire has claimed the life of a resident in the bayside suburb of Redland Bay, Queensland, leaving a community in mourning and emergency services issuing urgent safety warnings.
Emergency Response to Meredith Place Blaze
Emergency services were called to a property on Meredith Place in Redland Bay shortly before 2pm on Tuesday afternoon. Reports indicated a two-storey home was fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews arrived at the scene within four minutes, confronting extreme conditions.
Acting Superintendent Brenden Flynn described the scene as presenting "really difficult conditions." He stated that the fire was so intense that crews could not initially access the top level of the property. Two people managed to escape the inferno before firefighters arrived. One of them, a man, was transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for treatment.
Search Hampered by Collapse and Intensity
Firefighters were informed that a third resident remained unaccounted for. Crews wearing breathing apparatus forced entry into the burning building to attempt a search. However, their efforts were severely hampered by the fire's ferocity.
Part of the home's top floor had collapsed due to the intense heat. "Unfortunately, due to the fire conditions, the crews were hampered to conduct a full search and were unable to locate the person in time," Acting Superintendent Flynn explained. The body of the missing resident was later located on the first level of the home. Police are now working to formally identify the victim.
Urgent Safety Reminder Issued
Approximately 20 firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control. As fire investigation officers remained on scene into the evening, authorities seized the moment to reiterate a critical community message.
Acting Superintendent Flynn urged all households to check their smoke alarms. "This is the time of year to emphasise the importance of smoke alarms," he said. "Ensure you have one, make sure it's working, and have an escape plan." While it was confirmed that smoke alarms were present in the Redland Bay home, investigators are yet to determine if they were operational at the time of the fire. A full forensic assessment of the scene is ongoing.
