Electrical fire in aquarium shop | Fraser Coast News | Local News in Fraser Coast

A fire broke out at X-treme Marine Aquarium yesterday.

VALERIE HORTON

THE OWNER of X-treme Marine Aquariums was left in tears yesterday when an electrical fire broke out at her Shelly Beach business.

Carolyn French was too emotional to talk to the media but her tears said it all.

Firefighters were called to the Esplanade and Witt Street business about 5pm after staff at the adjoining Shelly Beach Medical Centre smelled smoke.

The malfunctioning of a pump filtration system is believed to have sparked the blaze, which left the business filled with smoke and its contents covered in black soot. Authorities yesterday declared the incident non-suspicious.

It is understood scores of saltwater fish were inside the premises but it was not known late yesterday if the creatures survived.

Firefighter Michael McIntyre, acting station officer, said the building was evacuated but it is understood the aquarium was closed when the fire broke out.

He said it was extremely lucky the medical centre staff detected the fire early.

Dr Max Hunter said it happened very quickly. “Suddenly everyone was saying ‘Get out, get out!’,” Dr Hunter said. “I grabbed all the paperwork and ran.”

A number of holiday units above the business were also empty at the time. The building did not suffer any structural damage.

Stacey Carter and her colleagues at the nearby Tusk beauty salon smelled smoke.

“You could smell it and you could see black smoke,” she said.

It is understood the business was uninsured.