LED light sparked fatal Pittsworth hotel inferno
BRIGHT bouquets at a makeshift memorial outside the crime scene tape at Pittsworth's Tattersalls Club Hotel stand as a stark contrast to the fire which claimed the life of a young man and devastated a community.
Hotel owners Bob and Sue Waddell were confronted with a scene that rocked them - their historic turn-of-the-century pub reduced to rubble and ruin.
The deadly blaze is thought to have ignited from an external LED sign light on the upper levels of the two-storey wooden pub.
The site remains closed off to the public, with wire fences surrounding the corner block.
Mrs Waddell yesterday met with solicitors and insurance assessors before determining any plans for the future of the site.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Peter Bradow said early investigations indicated an external LED sign light sparked the fire in the upper levels of the pub.
The crime scene was removed about noon yesterday as fire investigators scoured the ruins of the pub.
"Early indications suggest the cause of the fire was an LED light on the corner of the building on the upper floor," he said.
"We believe that is the most likely possible cause at this stage."
Insp. Bradow said fire inspectors finished their investigation yesterday and would now finalise a report into the fatal incident.
"That report and final determination will now be made," he said.
The Pittsworth community was still in shock yesterday as a second day shed new light on the ruins.
Residents had earlier shared their memories of the favoured pub where Tuesday nights were popular with counter meals and families.
The brick chimney which had remained standing after the blazing inferno was pulled down before investigators returned to the site yesterday morning.
It is understood the site will be cleared in coming days.
Source: Toowoomba Chronicle, Tara Miko, 9th January 2016
