A STANTHORPE home was engulfed in flames yesterday afternoon.

Neighbours started noticing smoke coming out of the purple weatherboard house at Greenup St and Scholtz St about 12.20pm.

It is understood the occupants of the building weren’t home at the time.

Firefighters received multiple triple zero calls and a unit from Stanthorpe, Wallangarra and Warwick responded, as well as one rural unit.

Unconfirmed reports from neighbours suggest the Lock St railway bridge caused problems as fire engines were unable to pass underneath and had to take a half-hour detour via Amosfield Rd.

When fire crews arrived at the house, they started battling the fire from outside before access was gained through the rear door and one crew entered the premises.

A spokeswoman from Queensland Fire and Rescue said at 2.17pm, crews were in “salvage mode, dampening down hotspots” before they left the scene shortly after 4pm.

She said the fire was contained in the western end of the house but there was smoke and heat damage throughout.

Cr Denise Ingram, who lives in the neighbourhood, said she was at an Anzac Day service in Wallangarra where two participants were called out of the service to attend to firefighting duties.

As she returned home she noticed smoke in the street.

“It was fortunate the family weren’t home,” she said.

“Luckily the nearby houses were okay but the big problem is that fire engines can’t come up under the bridge.

“I’m feeling very sick for the owners, it must be terrible.”

Investigations into the fire will continue.