A Brisbane family have lost everything just days before Christmas after a fire severely damaged their two-storey home.
The Strathpine family of four were sleeping upstairs in their north Brisbane home on Charlor St when the fire erupted in the early hours of Friday morning.
Six fire crews and a senior fire officer attended the property at about 2.50am and had the blaze under control by 3.30am.
Neighbours reportedly heard a number of explosions before the flames overtook the home.
Fire crews determined the worst of the damage was to the rear of the building once the fire was fully extinguished at 5.30am.
However, the flames had spread to the ceilings, further damaging the property.
One person was initially unaccounted for but on further investigation, it’s believed they weren’t inside the home at the time of the fire.
‘Queensland Police Service are assisting fire and rescue service to locate one additional person,’ Mark O’Brien, a firefighter at the scene, told Sunrise.
‘We do not believe they’re currently residing in the property.’
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have since received confirmation the person is safe.
Mr O’Brien added the fire should serve as a timely reminder for homes around to check their fire alarms.
A north Brisbane family lost their home to a fire (above) in the early hours of Friday morning, just days before Christmas
‘It’s devastating for a family to lose their belongings and their home at any point of the year but now so, even more than most,’ he said.
‘We do remind everybody to check their fire alarms – make sure those batteries are installed and complying with all the appropriate legislation.’
Two fire crews remained at the scene Friday morning as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.