In a daring operation on Wednesday night, emergency crews saved a mobility-impaired woman from her burning Virginia home, just minutes from Nundah’s town centre.
Read: Pinkenba Hub Boosts Pacific Security Collaboration
Rescue through walls
At 9:14 p.m., a fire erupted in a single-storey residence on Jefferis Street, prompting a swift response from emergency services. Twenty-five firefighters arrived to find the home engulfed in flames, with the woman trapped at the rear of the property.
In an extraordinary act of quick thinking, rescue crews cut through an external wall to reach the trapped resident. This unconventional method proved successful, though the operation came at a cost: several Queensland Police officers sustained injuries while assisting with the evacuation.
Injuries and investigation at the Virginia site
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene before being transported to Prince Charles Hospital. Multiple police officers also required medical attention after their heroic efforts during the rescue.
Although firefighters extinguished the blaze by 9:33 p.m., the incident has taken a serious turn as investigators have declared the fire suspicious. Police have established a crime scene, and investigations into its cause are underway.
Read: Nudgee Cemetery: Shadows of the Past, Whispers of the Departed
Second incident south of brisbane
On the same evening, emergency services responded to another structure fire in Brisbane’s south. Just minutes before the Virginia incident, firefighters contained a blaze at an abandoned brick building on Laxton Road, Pallara. That fire was successfully extinguished by 9:50 p.m.
The proximity of these incidents has raised concerns among local residents, although authorities have not suggested any connection between the two fires.
Published 08-December-2024