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Apparantly, the cause is still under investigation. Part of the building was saved, but a number of new cars were damaged or destroyed.
IMO, fires around cars can really be scary.
Though the gas tanks on modern vehicles are generally sealed up and secured pretty well because of gas-vapor emission regulations, each one of them contains an average 15 to 20 gallons (or highly explosive fumes) of gasoline. That's the equivalent of a small military-grade napalm bomb.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-...ge-fire-townsville-sparks-evacuations/7588460
Luxury cars destroyed as Lexus dealership fire forces evacuations in Townsville
Updated Mon at 10:28pm
PHOTO: The fire started in the roof of the Lexus on Townsville showroom early this morning. (Audience submitted: Michael Alldridge)
MAP: Townsville 4810
PHOTO: Duckworth Street, Garbutt has been closed in both directions. (Audience submitted: Mike Addison)
People in the nearby shopping centre Domain Central were urged to remain inside.
Acting fire station officer Clint Craperi said the blaze caused extensive damage to the dealership showroom.
"Multiple cars have been on fire plus there's been a partial ceiling collapse and substantial smoke damage, but we've saved a large percentage of the building," he said.
Station officer Craperi said it was difficult for firefighters to access the building as power was cut to the electrically operated doors.
"Because everything was shut up we found it hard to ventilate and get that smoke out," he said.
"We currently have an operational support unit performing air sampling and air monitoring around the businesses at Domain Central".
Townsville police inspector Roger White said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blaze.
"It doesn't appear that it is suspicious however there's a lot that needs to be done in that space before that can be validated," he said.
On Facebook, Lexus of Townsville wrote the dealership would be "closed until further notice due to a major fire in the premises".
Roads surrounding the dealership reopened about 12:00pm.
IMO, fires around cars can really be scary.
Though the gas tanks on modern vehicles are generally sealed up and secured pretty well because of gas-vapor emission regulations, each one of them contains an average 15 to 20 gallons (or highly explosive fumes) of gasoline. That's the equivalent of a small military-grade napalm bomb. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-...ge-fire-townsville-sparks-evacuations/7588460
Luxury cars destroyed as Lexus dealership fire forces evacuations in Townsville
Updated Mon at 10:28pm
PHOTO: The fire started in the roof of the Lexus on Townsville showroom early this morning. (Audience submitted: Michael Alldridge)MAP: Townsville 4810
PHOTO: Duckworth Street, Garbutt has been closed in both directions. (Audience submitted: Mike Addison)People in the nearby shopping centre Domain Central were urged to remain inside.
Acting fire station officer Clint Craperi said the blaze caused extensive damage to the dealership showroom.
"Multiple cars have been on fire plus there's been a partial ceiling collapse and substantial smoke damage, but we've saved a large percentage of the building," he said.
Station officer Craperi said it was difficult for firefighters to access the building as power was cut to the electrically operated doors.
"Because everything was shut up we found it hard to ventilate and get that smoke out," he said.
"We currently have an operational support unit performing air sampling and air monitoring around the businesses at Domain Central".
Townsville police inspector Roger White said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blaze.
"It doesn't appear that it is suspicious however there's a lot that needs to be done in that space before that can be validated," he said.
On Facebook, Lexus of Townsville wrote the dealership would be "closed until further notice due to a major fire in the premises".
Roads surrounding the dealership reopened about 12:00pm.