Teen ‘detained by police’ following ferocious house fire in Southport

AN abandoned house has partially collapsed after it was gutted by fire in Southport this morning.

The derelict home went up in flames on the corner of North and Norman streets just after 10.30am.

Firefighters battled built-up traffic to get to the scene and found the house well alight, with massive flames shooting out onto the main road.

The inferno sent huge plumes of thick black smoke soaring into the sky above the CBD.

Neighbours were evacuated while crews fought the fire which quickly engulfed the property.

Photos obtained by myGC show panicked residents fleeing with their pets in their cars.

One firefighter was overwhelmed by the heat and had to be carried away from the burning house.

He was assessed by paramedics at the scene but thankfully did not require hospitalisation.

A cordon was set up around the scene to keep onlookers away with fears of asbestos in the building.

@tomforbesGC House fire North Street #Southport pic.twitter.com/wy0cYyr87O

— Will Paul (@WillPaul2) April 25, 2018

Motorists were also urged to steer well clear of the area while emergency crews responded.

Local streets quickly became jammed as North St was closed and drivers were diverted around the scene.

#BREAKING: A fire is raging in a Southport home on the corner of Smith Street and Little Norman Street. #9News pic.twitter.com/trW3ZweMNW

— Nine News Gold Coast (@9NewsGoldCoast) April 25, 2018

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. According to locals, ‘street kids’ frequent the property.

A 17-year-old boy was detained by police at the scene while officers were still searching for two other teens who were seen running from the house before it burst into flames.

The building was totally destroyed in the inferno although thankfully, no one was seriously injured.

No further information was available at the time of writing.

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