National

Qld police probe fatal container fire

By AAP Newswire

Aug 12, 2022

Queensland Police are still determining whether a fire that killed a man in Townsville is suspicious after he perished within a shipping container.

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Emergency services were called to a Woolcock Street industrial property in Townsville's west just before 10pm on Thursday where they battled a blaze that spread from the container to a nearby caravan.

It is believed the 46-year-old man was a property caretaker that used the caravan and container as a partial residence.

He was found deceased within the container after Queensland Fire and Emergency Services extinguished the blaze.

Detective Inspector Jason Sheperd said witnesses heard screaming from within the property and immediately called triple zero.

"One of the witnesses did try to enter the property to provide assistance but there are a number of guard dogs in the property that stopped the witness from from getting in," he said on Friday.

The man was found at the rear of the shipping container with investigations continuing as to whether he was trapped in by the blaze.

The owner of the industrial property is assisting police.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press