Firefighters remained at the charred shell of a Virginia factory on Monday morning where a huge fire had broken out at the weekend, shrouding the city in smoke.
An emergency situation was declared on Sunday afternoon after a fire destroyed the commercial factory in Brisbane's north, sending toxic smoke billowing into the air.
Firefighters brought the fire under control after 5pm at the warehouse, just off busy Sandgate Road at Virginia, but continued to fight the blaze long after. On Monday they were still hosing down the area to prevent reignition.
A police exclusion zone was reduced about 7.30pm and smoke-affected residents advised they could finally leave their homes after close to four hours inside.
Police declared the site a crime scene and scientific officers and fire investigators were expected to visit the area on Monday to determine the cause.
One lane from Sandgate Road westbound onto Pritchard Road reopened to traffic late last night.
An emergency situation was declared late on Sunday afternoon as the ferocious blaze tore through the factory, sparking warnings about toxic smoke.
Shoppers and staff were evacuated from businesses and a nearby service station's pumps were shut down as fire crews fought the massive blaze.
The fire at the warehouse, just off busy Sandgate Road at Virginia, broke out about 3.30pm.
It was sending plumes of thick black smoke into the air as firefighters used a crane to try to control the flames, with burnt-out cars apparently visible from a news helicopter.
Police declared an emergency situation at 4.10pm, cutting members of the public off from several businesses in the area.
Staff and shoppers at Officeworks and a nearby pet shop had been evacuated, a police spokesman said, adding that a nearby service station had shut its pumps down because of the threat.
"The fire continues to burn and due to the toxic nature of the smoke, residents in the area are being asked to remain indoors and close windows," police said, in a statement.
"Sandgate Road remains open, however police are requesting motorists to avoid the area if possible due to a build-up of traffic."
Emergency situation declared in Virginia following factory fire in Pritchard St. Residents asked to remain in doors. https://t.co/z2eGljgkMu pic.twitter.com/OruSxEqT6i??? Queensland Police (@QldPolice) September 24, 2017
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Service spokesman said eight pumping crews were fighting the blaze on Pritchard Road, plus support crews, with 20 crews in total on the scene by 5pm.
Firefighters were equipped with breathing apparatuses as they tried to douse the flames.
Major fire at factory in Pritchard St., Virginia - people in the area are asked to remain indoors & close windows due to toxic smoke.??? Queensland Police (@QldPolice) September 24, 2017
Passerby Tim McGarrity, from Redline Emergency Management, said fire trucks were still arriving as the intensity of the fire lessened.
"At the very beginning, the flames themselves within the smoke would have been 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 metres) in the air," he said.
"They were absolutely enormous. The smoke was billowing out at a rate that I haven't seen before."
Correction: An earlier version of this story named All Crash Parts as the affected business, based on information supplied by police. This was incorrect.
