Mission Beach restaurants hit by fire
Police are investigating two fires that sent restaurants on Mission Beach in Queensland up in flames.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fires that ripped through the restaurants on Sunday night.
The two restaurants concerned were the Italian Pizza Pasta House Restaurant and Cafe and Shanti Cafe on Porter Promenade.
Fire fighters came at about 11.15pm after a member of the public contacted authorities. The restaurants were closed at the time.
No one was reported in injured in the fires which police have described as suspicious.
The key to their investigations might be the reports from witnesses saying they had heard a large explosion before the flames devastated the buildings.
Police have launched a full investigation into the fires and hope to get an answer soon.
Queensland police scientists and forensic officers as well as Queensland Fire and Emergency Services forensic offers are now conducting their investigations.
“There has been significant damage but without insurance assessments we are not sure how extensive they are,” Mission Beach Sergeant Troy Nowitzki told the Cairns Post.
“We are still working to establish the cause of the fire and are conducting thorough and extensive investigations.
“We are taking witness statements and checking CCTV footage and using every available resource to determine what has happened.”
Everyone in the area has been rocked by the fires.
Mission Beach Newsagency owner Ross Schultz told the Cairns Post that many of his customers had been left in a state of shock by what had happened.
The Shanti Café put up a notice on its Facebook page saying the people there were feeling devastated.
“Please be advised, due to circumstances beyond our control Shanti Cafe will be CLOSED until further notice. Thank you to everyone for your support thus far and through this difficult time.”
Beneath the notice were hashtags saying #devastatedgutted #cannotbelieveit and #souldestroying.
by Leon Gettler, July 12th 2017
