A sudden vehicle fire in a central Cairns car park triggered a major emergency response on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of multiple businesses and filling a high-rise building with thick, acrid smoke.
Emergency Response to Lake Street Incident
The alarm was raised just before 2:30 PM on Thursday, 16 May, when reports flooded in about a car alight within a multi-level car park on Lake Street in the heart of Cairns' central business district. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) crews were dispatched immediately to the scene, facing a challenging scenario with a fire burning on one of the building's lower levels.
Firefighters worked quickly to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to other vehicles or the structure itself. However, the primary danger became the dense smoke, which began to seep upwards through the building's stairwells and other openings. This rapid smoke infiltration prompted emergency protocols to be activated for the safety of all occupants.
Business Disruption and Evacuation
As smoke billowed through the premises, businesses operating within the affected building had no choice but to evacuate their staff and customers. The process was managed orderly, with people directed to a safe assembly point away from the building. The sight of emergency vehicles and personnel converging on Lake Street caused significant disruption in the busy CBD area during the afternoon.
Paramedics from the Queensland Ambulance Service were also on standby at the location, prepared to assess anyone for potential smoke inhalation or other injuries. Fortunately, initial reports indicated no serious injuries were sustained during the incident. The focus remained on ensuring everyone was accounted for and that the fire was fully extinguished.
Aftermath and Investigation
Once the flames were brought under control, QFES crews remained on site to conduct atmospheric monitoring, checking for any lingering dangerous gases and ensuring the building was safe for re-entry. The process of ventilating the smoke-logged structure took considerable time, delaying the return of evacuees to their workplaces.
The cause of the vehicle fire is not yet known and will be subject to an investigation by the relevant authorities. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the swift disruption a fire in a confined, multi-level space can cause in a dense urban environment like the Cairns CBD.
The successful response highlighted the coordinated efforts of QFES, Queensland Police, and Queensland Ambulance personnel. Their rapid action ensured a potentially dangerous situation was resolved without harm to the public, though it left a number of local businesses dealing with an unexpected and disruptive afternoon closure.
