Major Fire Engulfs Buildings in Woolloongabba, Injuring One

A man has sustained severe injuries following a major fire that erupted in Brisbane‘s inner-south suburb of Woolloongabba on Wednesday afternoon. The blaze quickly spread, consuming at least three buildings and resulting in the declaration of a public emergency during peak hour.

The Queensland Ambulance Service reported that a man suffering from airway burns and smoke inhalation was transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Emergency services, including fifteen fire crews led by senior officers, as well as police and paramedics, were dispatched to the scene.

The fire ignited in an abandoned commercial building on Hubert Street and extended to nearby structures, including a heritage-listed Georgian Revival hall managed by The Lussh, a venue known for hosting weddings. As the flames intensified, the roof of one building collapsed, while another was completely razed.

“I was on my top-floor apartment and I saw a bunch of black smoke accumulated pretty quickly,” remarked a bystander named Phillip. The smoke visibly spread across Brisbane, and heat from the fire was felt in streets nearby, scorching trees along its path.

Given the reports of asbestos and dangerous chemicals at the site, Queensland Police declared an exclusion zone stretching from the Pacific Motorway to the Gabba. In a public warning, they advised citizens to avoid the vicinity and urged those within the exclusion area to stay indoors until further notice.

The affected buildings were part of an area slated for redevelopment by the state government, aimed at capitalizing on the upcoming Cross River Rail station projected to be built opposite the Gabba. Despite plans for new residential towers, restaurants, and shops, plans for a revamped Metro station remain uncertain, particularly after the state’s decision not to reconstruct the Gabba for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As emergency crews continued to tackle the fire, motorists and the general public took to social media to relay updates and warnings about the ongoing situation. Fire investigators were unable to access the devastated buildings immediately, delaying the investigation until Thursday morning. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and an inquiry will establish whether it was set intentionally.