Neighbouring residents quickly turned garden hoses towards their boundary fence, worried the flames would spread as the fire intensified.

Fire crews arrived shortly after 8.15am and immediately began hosing down the burning home.

However, water from their appliance ran out within minutes, forcing firefighters to run hoses across Kerr Street to a hydrant located near the Super Amart store. 

The hydrant outlet had been buried under soil, delaying access while crews dug it out to restore water flow.

By then, the house was already beyond saving — flames were leaping from the windows and the roof appeared close to collapse.

Early indications suggest the fire began in the living area, where a lithium battery for an e-scooter was reportedly on charge.

The couple who occupied the home were not at the property when the blaze broke out.

Firemen took minutes to dig soil off the hydrant outlet after the tanker ran out of water

A woman believed to be the property owner arrived at the scene and was visibly distraught.

She was assisted by paramedics, while police diverted peak-hour traffic around surrounding streets as Kerr Street was closed.

Professional traffic controllers were brought in as the main road is expected to remain closed for some time while investigations continue and the fire is fully extinguished and made safe.

Thick black smoke drifted across nearby homes, prompting the deployment of a hazmat team from Goonellabah and additional ambulance crews with stretchers as a precaution. Fortunately, no serious smoke-related injuries were reported.

Fire investigators will examine the scene today to confirm the cause.

Next-door neighbours sprayed water over the fence while waiting for firefighters to arrive