Fire crews battle major Gold Coast highrise fire

UPDATE @ 11.30AM | Residents of a high rise balcony in Surfers Paradise have had to be evacuated, after a fire broke out on the 13th floor.

Five crews were called to the Florida apartment building on the Gold Coast Highway just before 10.00am.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services report that the blaze broke out on the balcony, but there was no one inside the appartment at the time.

It’s been reported that a cigarette may be to blame, but QFES was unable to confirm this.

Fire fighters remained on scene for at least an hour, carrying out check for smoke penetration on surrounding floors.

They also carried out ‘positive pressure ventilation’ to clear out all the smoke.

All crews had left the scene by 11.20am, with no injuries reported.

#UPDATE: The blaze broke out at a unit on the 13th floor of the complex on the #GoldCoast Highway.

Fire crews were called to the scene just after 10.00am. #9News pic.twitter.com/VeZE9SJUiW

— 9News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) January 14, 2021

EARLIER @ 10.30AM | A NUMBER of fire crews have rushed to Surfers Paradise after a fire broke out in a highrise building.

It started in an apartment on the 13th floor of the Florida apartment building on the Gold Coast Highway just before 10.00am.

Five crews, including one aerial crew, are at the scene trying to battle the blaze.

Nobody was found in the apartment when crews arrived. Checks are now underway in higher floors to see if they have been impacted by the smoke.

The aerial team is setting up a telescopic ladder to try and extinguish the flames.

A lane of he Gold Coast Highway outside of the building has been closed off, causing some traffic delays.

#UPDATE: The blaze broke out at a unit on the 13th floor of the complex on the #GoldCoast Highway.

Fire crews were called to the scene just after 10.00am. #9News pic.twitter.com/VeZE9SJUiW

— 9News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) January 14, 2021