Gatton's Imperial Hotel destroyed by fire; deemed a 'threat to life' in July
The historic Imperial Hotel in Gatton has been gutted by a fierce fire just four months after it was deemed a threat to life.
The inferno at the strip of shops in Gatton. Facebook: Sheryl Kowaltzke
The double-storey pub, in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane, was up in flames and partially collapsed when firefighters arrived just before 1:00am.
Thirty-five firefighters could not save the hotel, which was built in the late 1800s.
Every available firefighter in the township of about 7,000 responded to the emergency.
Inspector Daryl Rush said the blaze was so intense a number of firefighters had to be treated for heat exhaustion.
The heat of the blaze also melted insignia on a fire truck 25 metres away.
"An example of some of the heat that was being radiated at this incidence - one of the appliances that was parked approximately 25 metres [away] had one of the decals on the side of the door start to crinkle and melt off the fire door," he said.
"The premise is completely collapsed - basically what we can see at the moment is concrete stumps and section of roofing."
Hotel declared 'illegal accommodation'
The owners had council approval to turn the hotel in backpacker accommodation and it was undergoing renovations.
However in July the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services found it had been running as an "illegal and unsafe budget accommodation".
"If a fire started at this building, our officers were concerned the people inside would have had absolutely no chance of escape," the QFES said at the time.
"The threat to life at these premises was so serious that QFES officers decided to take action in the Supreme Court as a matter of urgency, to ensure the building owners did not continue to provide accommodation to any person."
At this stage it is unknown what started the fire.
Luckily, no-one was inside the building last night.
Some streets around the area, including parts of Railway Terrace, remain closed.
Lockyer MP Ian Rickuss said it was a devastating scene.
"There is virtually nothing left of the Imperial Hotel - it is all on the ground," he said.
John lived at the Imperial hotel in 1980, when he first came to Queensland. Owners helped him to find a job and he's been in the Lockyer Valley ever since.
Neighbouring businesses suffered smoke and water damage.
Andrew O'Brien and his family own the Supercheap Auto store next door, which was saved by firefighters.
"There's certainly damage there, the brick wall has been cooked, we've had a look and the real heroes here are the firies to prevent our building going up."
Source: ABC News, 5th November 2015
Originally published as: Gatton's Imperial Hotel destroyed by fire; deemed a 'threat to life' in July
