A man has tragically died and residents were forced to leap from their balconies to escape a ferocious fire that ripped through an apartment complex in far north Queensland on Monday.
Chaotic Scenes as Blaze Erupts
The fire broke out at a unit on Mahogany Street in the Cairns suburb of Manoora around 10.40am. When fire crews arrived, the building was already well alight, with flames rapidly spreading. One neighbour described waking to the sound of screaming and finding his escape route blocked by the inferno below him.
"I couldn't get down the stairs and was forced to jump into the pool," he told 7NEWS, recounting his desperate escape from his balcony. He said the fire came on incredibly fast and was accompanied by explosions.
Victim Succumbs to Injuries
A 51-year-old man suffered critical burns to his body in the blaze. Despite managing to escape the burning apartment, he was in a life-threatening condition when paramedics treated him at the scene. He was rushed to Cairns Hospital but, police confirmed, succumbed to his extensive injuries a short time later.
A neighbour recounted the harrowing moment he saw the victim crawling through the burning unit, calling out to the badly injured man as he tried to escape.
Firefighters Battle Spreading Flames
Four fire and rescue crews fought the intense blaze, which spread to two units on the bottom floor of the eight-unit block. Their efforts were assisted by heavy rainfall in the area, and they managed to bring the fire under control by approximately 11.30am.
Police have indicated their preliminary investigations suggest the fire is non-suspicious, however, inquiries into the exact cause are continuing. The community has been left shaken by the sudden and deadly incident.
