A “fiery explosion” at the Hilton Surfers Paradise hotel sparked a blaze that forced more than 100 guests to stand by the roadside outside for at least an hour in the early hours of Friday.
Footage of the incident appeared to show flames centred on the large “H” sign on the exterior of the landmark building, on Orchid Avenue at the Gold Coast.
Seven News reported that onlookers said they saw a “fiery explosion” near the top of one of the towers about 2am.
The Queensland Fire Department said it received calls about 2.10am, and sent out six fire crews, who reported it was “only a small fire”.
“There was the main fire on the roof and then, from the embers falling down, there was a secondary fire down on the pool deck,” a QFD spokesman said.
“It looked worse in the footage … there were embers coming down, it did look a bit spectacular.”
The fire department reported no one was injured, and said there was “no suggestion” the Hilton’s sign had played a role in the fire.
“We’d have to make some more inquiries and just see if the cause is obvious or if they do need to have an investigation into it or not,” the spokesman said.
