Five people were taken to hospital after an industrial forklift caught fire and flames spread to shipping containers at a commercial site in Hemmant.
Emergency crews were called to the Anton Road site about 10:50 a.m. on Friday, 4 September, and arrived to find the fire well developed. Thick black smoke rose from the depot as firefighters worked among stacks of shipping containers.
Two women suffer serious burn injuries
Queensland Ambulance Service sent seven crews to the site. One woman suffered life-threatening burns to her head, face and chest and was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, while another woman suffered serious burns to her arms and was also hospitalised.
Another account described the second woman’s condition as potentially life-threatening. Three male workers were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation, bringing the number of people hospitalised to five.
More than 100 workers were evacuated during the emergency, while several nearby businesses were also cleared as smoke spread through the area. Firefighters remained at the site later on Friday managing hot spots after the main blaze was extinguished.
Fire spreads to five empty containers
Queensland Fire Department Acting Inspector Daniel Rasmussen said workers at the site had attempted to extinguish the fire before emergency crews arrived, but the blaze continued to spread. Multiple fire crews were required to extinguish it.
The fire damaged the large industrial forklift and spread to five neighbouring shipping containers. Fire officials said all five containers were empty, but their height and construction made access difficult for crews.
The containers were refrigerated and insulated with foam, according to a Queensland Fire Department spokesperson. Oils and lubricants in the forklift, combined with the container insulation, contributed to the volume of smoke produced by the fire.
Workplace safety investigation begins
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland was notified of the incident and representatives attended the Hemmant site. The agency said an investigation was under way and declined to comment further while it remained active.
A spokesperson for the company operating at the site said it was cooperating with authorities and providing counselling and other support to affected staff and their families. The spokesperson also said workers had acted promptly in trying to contain the fire before emergency services took over.
Authorities had not announced what caused the forklift to catch fire. The cause remained under investigation.
Published 5-Sept-2206
