At approximately 11.30 pm on 18 August 2002, a boarding house in Sandgate, Brisbane, was destroyed by fire. Three of the boarding house occupants perished as a result of the fire, and six were seriously injured. The fire commenced at the front of the boarding house, beneath the main floor where the occupants resided in individual rooms. The fire spread to and destroyed the adjoining premises, another boarding house.

The cause of the fire is unknown; however the owner of the boarding house was prosecuted for failing to provide adequate means of escape or safety measures such as alarms, emergency lights, exit signs or outward opening doors.