General News
25 August, 2022
Blaze a “nightmare” for local business owner
The future of a Maryborough business is unclear after a fire, which was sparked by a tea towel left on a food warmer, caused substantial damage to the High Street chicken shop, putting a halt to trading. Emergency services including police and the...
The future of a Maryborough business is unclear after a fire, which was sparked by a tea towel left on a food warmer, caused substantial damage to the High Street chicken shop, putting a halt to trading.
Emergency services including police and the Maryborough Fire Brigade were called to the Maryland Diner at around 9 am Wednesday morning to reports of visible smoke coming from the building.
Maryborough Fire Brigade Captain Darryl Wagstaff said when the brigade arrived, smoke was coming from the ceiling area and rear door of the premises.
“The Maryborough pumper turned out to the fire and on arrival, the crew found significant smoke emitting from the building,” he said.
“Upon entering, we found the seat of the fire was actually in the corner of the chicken shop itself and it was extinguished with a charged hose.”
Captain Wagstaff said the blaze had damaged equipment inside the business as well as the building itself, however the units above and beside the business were undamaged.
“It’s been determined the cause of the fire was a tea towel or a similar item had been placed on a food warmer and had been smoldering for some time before the occupants in the unit next door noticed the smoke in the building,” he said.
“In terms of structural damage there is some damage to the shop itself but the units beside the shop and upstairs are unaffected.
“There is also considerable damage to equipment inside the chicken shop itself.
"This is an incident that could have been a lot worse, if the owners and staff hadn’t been there when they were this would have been a lot worse than it is now.
“It’s also a reminder for community members not to leave items like tea towels on electrical appliances.”
The fire left business owner Donna Longmuir “shocked” by the extent of the damage and the impact on the business.
“I’m shocked, it all just happened so quickly,” she said.
“I’ve been here for seven years, this (the business) is my baby and it’s hard to see something like this happen.”
Ms Longmuir said the incident could impact the businesses future.
“I’d like to say we’ll be back and we’ll be bigger and better than ever but I don’t know, it just looks so bad,” she said.
“We’ve just survived COVID and now this has happened, it’s been a nightmare.”
