An out of control fire which has spread to neighbouring properties has left one man fighting for life as the blaze continues to cause havoc across the city.
An abandoned building was reported to be on fire in Hubert Street, Woolloongabba, in inner-city Brisbane about 4.30pm on Wednesday.
A man suffered from ‘significant smoke inhalation’ and was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with life threatening airway burns.
Fire crews arrived to the abandoned building already substantially alight. It’s believed the structure has chemicals stored inside.
The blaze spread to a neighbouring business, forcing police to declare an exclusion zone and cordon off surrounding streets.
An emergency declaration was made by Queensland Police under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA).
‘Members of the public are advised to avoid the area and those within the exclusion zone are asked to remain indoors until further notice,’ Queensland Police said.
The fire also spread to Brisbane warehouse wedding venue Lussh, with firefighters working in cranes above the building to put out the flames, reported The Courier Mail.
The fire broke out in an abandoned warehouse that had chemicals stored in Woolloongabba, in inner city Brisbane about 4.30pm on Wednesday
The blaze spread to a nearby building and there are 15 fire crews working to extinguish the flames
A Queensland Fire Department spokesman told Daily Mail Australia there is 15 crews on site ‘at last count’.
‘We’ve had crews working on active fire in two buildings and a third building is affected by smoke,’ he said.
‘They are still working on fire suppression and it is hard to estimate how long it will take (to put the fires out).’
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia two crews remain at the site.
Electrician Ben Newman was next door to the abandoned building when he first smelt the smoke and when he had a look outside he knew he needed to leave straight away.
‘The building was abandoned and I heard a guy screaming help me, one of the bystanders came and just kicked the window and pulled him out,’ he said.
An emergency declaration was made by Queensland Police under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA). People are asked to stay away from the zone and people within it must stay indoors until further notice
‘About four fireys came about 5-10 minutes later and the police just told me to leave.’
Another witness, Kay Smith, said she saw the fire jump to other structures and said it was ‘very sad’ as she believed heritage buildings may be at risk.