A woman who had been granted a domestic violence order and a man are feared dead after her townhouse was destroyed in a suspicious fire south of Brisbane.
Firefighters were called to the property on Myola St, Browns Plains, which was fully engulfed in fire about 4am on Monday.
The 49-year-old woman, who was under a temporary protection order issued two weeks ago, and a 49-year-old man haven't been seen or heard from since the blaze.
The man's ute was found at the home and police believe the fire was deliberately lit.
Acting Detective Inspector Daniel Cunningham fears the pair may be dead inside the smouldering ruins.
"It's terrible, it's an absolutely awful situation," he told reporters.
"I mean we hope for the best but our fears are that someone may have lost their life and that's a terrible thing. It's a confronting issue for our first-responders and it's an awful situation."
He said it could take fire investigators days and possibly up to a week to prepare a report about the cause of the blaze.
Det Insp Cunningham would not confirm where the man lived or reports neighbours heard an argument between the couple in the days leading up to the fire.
"I can't comment specifically on this particular history but in any situation involving domestic and family violence, it's always concerning to us always, always," he said.
He confirmed a temporary protection order was issued by Beenleigh Magistrates Court on February 9.
The man's silver ute was in the car park at the property and second crime scene has been established.
Police are calling for anyone with any information about the couple or the blaze to come forward.
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Australian Associated Press
