Homeowner says he told police of threats before his house was destroyed by fire

Fire engulfs a home at night.

Police are investigating reports that a man had made threats to burn down a house that was this morning destroyed by fire at Crestmead, south of Brisbane.

No-one was injured in the blaze, which gutted the two-storey home in Hakari Street.

Homeowner Gary Odger said he was outraged because he went to police after receiving threats that his house would be set on fire.

“Next thing I’m getting a phone call at one o’clock in the morning saying my house is on fire and when I got there I went off my brain at them saying, ‘I came to you for help I came to you and you didn’t help’,” Mr Odger said.

“I’ve lost everything, all the films of our children when they were little — just everything is gone.”

He said he would speak to the police again today.

“I told them everything I could but I was very angry,” he said.

“It’s like the police don’t care unless you are murdered or actually hurt … I wanted protection.”

Police have declared the property a crime scene.

Ross Bobbermien from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said there was little that could be done to save the home.

“There was fears there were two persons unaccounted for but they have since been accounted for and there’s been no injuries.”

Neighbour Belinda Malek said she heard the fire just after midnight.

“I walked out the back because I heard some yelling and looked over the fence and I’ve seen the glow,” she said.

“The house was well alight. It was intense.”

“It was pretty hot, very, very hot.”

“I think it was deliberately lit; there was a disturbance there about a month-and-a-half ago and police were called to that incident.”

Article by Andree Withey – ABC News – Source Link