Second Byron CBD inferno in weeks destroys heritage building

Another major fire has struck Byron Bay’s town centre, with a heritage listed cottage destroyed at Jonson Street.

Fire services responded to the incident at 88 Jonson Street late Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday morning. The cottage is listed as a heritage item under Byron Shire records.

 

 

Images posted on social media showed crews battling heavy flames as firefighters worked to protect nearby properties in the tightly built section of town.

Fire and Rescue NSW said crews moved quickly to stop the blaze spreading to nearby buildings.

“Our firefighters responded to a structure fire in central Byron Bay, crews arrived to an involved blaze and got straight to work, bringing the fire under control quickly and preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties,” the statement read.

 

 

Footage of the blaze prompted an outpouring of concern online.

“I hope everyone is alive and well. So sad,” one social media user said.

A witness said Threeways worker Mitchy ran over and started kicking in doors after fearing someone may still have been inside.

“That’s instinctive. Good bloke, Mitchy,” Kirk said.

“Makes good tacos, too,” he added.

Another eyewitness said he was shocked to see an influencer posing for photos in front of the burning building as firefighters battled the blaze.

“We were just saying, ‘Byron Bay isn’t as influencer ravaged as we’d heard’. Seconds later we stumbled upon this fire. And an influencer type posing in front of it,” he posted on social media.

The fire comes just weeks after Freedom Machine Byron Bay was gutted in a separate incident that later raised wider concerns about e-bike battery safety.

 

 

In April, the business revealed a faulty battery from a low cost online brand allegedly ignited while staff were testing it, triggering a fire that tore through the store.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews remained at the site on Saturday as investigators worked to determine how the blaze began.

There were no reports of injuries.