A massive fire broke out at the Hilton hotel in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, forcing the evacuation of more than 400 guests in the early hours of Friday morning. The incident, which started around 2 a.m., saw flames engulfing the roof of the high-rise hotel, with burning debris falling onto the lower levels.
Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before seeing the fire spread, creating a chaotic and frightening situation for residents and guests. Fire crews responded swiftly, and the blaze was extinguished within 30 minutes, with no reported injuries. However, the dramatic scenes left many questioning the safety measures in place at the hotel.
Flames and Falling Debris: The Chaos Unfolds
The fire at the Hilton hotel began on the roof, with six fire crews rushing to the scene after receiving emergency calls. Upon arrival, firefighters found material burning on the rooftop, and soon after, debris began falling, igniting a second fire on the lower levels. The sight of flames cascading down the side of the hotel was described by witnesses as both surreal and terrifying.
One of the first to witness the fire was Ralph Kogler, a Surfers Paradise resident, who was woken by a loud explosion. “Exploding fragments landed on at least 10 different ledges down the building, making the first impression quite unbelievable, it looked like the whole side of the building was alight,” he recalled.
Burning debris fell onto an outdoor restaurant area, setting tables, chairs, and even an umbrella on fire. The glow from the multiple fires was visible from a great distance, leading to fears that the blaze could spread further.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Shane Dye, who lives in an adjacent Hilton tower, described the fire as an intense inferno. “I am only 30 metres away from the tower that was on fire, and my window directly faces it,” he said. “Everything was on fire and in flames, I couldn’t believe it.”
Mass Evacuation and Confusion Among Guests
With the fire spreading rapidly, hotel staff and emergency responders acted quickly to evacuate over 400 guests from the building. However, reports from those inside suggest that initial communication was lacking, leading to moments of confusion and fear.
Dye recalled that the hotel’s front desk staff were initially unaware of the severity of the situation. “The bloke at the desk didn’t know, he had no idea.
Burning debris PLUMMETS from Hilton Hotel roof pic.twitter.com/xGRV9d3i18
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 17, 2025
Then some people came running in and said everything was on fire and things were falling on the ground and we had to get out,” he said. Guests were hurriedly directed to exit points, with some leaving the building in their sleepwear, carrying only essential belongings.
Despite the panic, the evacuation was completed without any injuries. Once outside, guests gathered in designated safe zones as fire crews worked tirelessly to bring the situation under control. By 2:30 a.m., the fire was fully extinguished, and after a thorough safety inspection, guests were allowed to return to their rooms.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
Authorities have stated that the fire is not considered suspicious, but a full investigation is still underway to determine the exact cause. The Queensland Fire Department confirmed that fire investigators were not required to attend, and the Hilton hotel management is now responsible for conducting an internal review.
One major concern raised by guests and residents is how the fire was able to spread so quickly and how effective the hotel’s safety protocols were in handling the crisis. The sight of burning debris falling multiple stories down the side of the building has led some to question whether more stringent fire safety measures need to be enforced in high-rise hotels.
While no one was injured, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of fires in densely populated accommodations. Guests and residents will now look to the Hilton hotel management for answers and assurances that such an incident will not happen again in the future.
For now, the swift action of firefighters and emergency responders prevented what could have been a much larger disaster. However, the images of flames consuming the Hilton hotel’s rooftop will linger in the minds of those who experienced it firsthand, and safety concerns in Australia’s high-rise accommodations are likely to be a topic of discussion for some time to come.