Police have made a grim discovery in the charred remains of a Brisbane charity warehouse, destroyed in a fire just weeks before Christmas. The blaze, which ripped through the Citipointe Charity Warehouse in Durack, has also wiped out essential food supplies and hundreds of Christmas hampers intended for vulnerable families.
A Tragic Discovery Amidst the Ashes
Emergency services were first called to the Freeman Road site near Rosemary Street in Durack around 6.45am on Friday, responding to reports of a building alight. While firefighters managed to extinguish the flames that morning, the structure remained unsafe for hours.
Detective Acting Inspector Leah Godfrey explained that officers could not enter the building until approximately 6pm that evening. It was during their subsequent examination that they discovered human remains inside the gutted shed.
Following a forensic examination on December 1, police identified the deceased as a 44-year-old man from Inala. Authorities confirmed the man was not an employee of the charity and had not been reported missing. Detective Acting Inspector Godfrey stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation and is being treated as suspicious.
"Until we know otherwise, we are treating this as suspicious," Godfrey told media. "Obviously you can appreciate that the family are devastated at their loss and our hearts go out to them." Police are appealing for anyone with relevant information, CCTV, or dashcam footage to come forward.
Community Reels From Loss of Vital Support Hub
The fire represents a catastrophic blow to the local community, which relied heavily on the charity's services. The warehouse was a critical distribution point, providing 20–30 tonnes of free fruit, vegetables, bread, and milk every week to those facing hardship.
Site manager Kylie McDonald said the charity supported a beautiful and diverse community of people in desperate situations, from those experiencing domestic violence to families grappling with unexpected bills. "We just have so many people reach out to us in desperation," McDonald said.
The loss is quantified in stark terms:
- More than 10,000 individuals and families accessed services monthly.
- Over 600 prepared Christmas hampers were destroyed.
- The building and all stock inside were completely lost.
"The loss of the building, contents and stock represents not just damage to a structure or an organisation, but a direct impact on the wellbeing of our community," the charity stated.
Rallying Support in a Time of Crisis
In the face of this tragedy, the community has begun to rally. Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner visited the site, posting a video that showed the devastating scale of the damage. He emphasised the urgent need to get the service operational again for the thousands who depend on it.
"Sadly last Friday it was burnt to the ground and right now there are 10,000 people who were relying on these services every month that are now questioning what they do next," Lord Mayor Schrinner said. "We're keen to help them get up and running again."
The charity has launched a fundraiser to recover from the disaster. Demonstrating remarkable generosity, the appeal had already raised more than $63,000 by lunchtime on Wednesday, including a single donation of $15,000. Despite the devastation, the team remains determined. "We are a resourceful team," said Kylie McDonald. "We will come up with plan B."
As police continue their investigation into the suspicious fire and the tragic death, the focus for many remains on rebuilding the essential lifeline that has been so suddenly severed.
