For many in Narangba, the first day of the Easter break started not with the quiet of a public holiday, but with a series of loud bangs echoing through the suburb in what I’m calling the Narangba Easter Explosion. Between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM this morning, Friday, April 3, the Narangba Rangers Rugby League bottom field was targeted in a reckless act of vandalism that will have the community talking I’m sure.
I was on the scene shortly after the second incident to witness the emergency response and have since returned in the daylight to document the aftermath. I have to tell you, it’s hard to sleep when you hear an explosion so close to your house. Let alone having two of them in a row.
The Timeline: A Disturbance in Two Acts
The incident occurred in two distinct stages, waking residents near the local BP Narangba, Narangba Ambulance Station and the surrounding streets:
- 3-3.30 AM: The first explosion wasn’t reported, I thought it was our daughter watching Netflix too loud.
- 4-4.30 AM: A second, much louder blast followed, which was reported which brought emergency services to the scene.
I heard the first and thought it was our daughter watching Netflix too loud, I also heard a bit of shouting then as well with a few expletives. While I was trying to get to sleep the next explosions happened, this was much bigger and must of involved many more aerosol cans exploding than the first explosion. When I looked out of our bedroom window there was an area fully ablaze with a trail of fire leading into it. The fuse trail of fire reminded me of the lines of fire from the DeLorean in Back to the Future.
The Method: Reckless Vandalism
While the sounds were dramatic, the “Narangba Easter Explosion” appears to be the work of individuals using a dangerous, DIY setup (essentially a home made bomb). The perpetrators placed a bucket of aerosol cans on the playing field and used a 10 metre accelerant trail as their long range fuse as you’ll see in the photos and videos.
This allowed them to ignite the trail and flee before the heat reached the canisters. It’s a move that is as dangerous as it is disappointing, risking serious injury to themselves and significant damage to the community’s sporting facilities.
Daylight Gallery & Video: The Damage Assessment
Returning to the grounds this morning, the extent of the scorched grass is clear. You can trace the path where the accelerant burned its way toward the full bucket of aerosol cans. With how loud it was, I wonder if they had filled the bucket with accelerant as well. They were pretty lucky not to blow themselves up.
If they were using petrol to light it, in these times it probably would’ve cost them $20 to light the fuse, even more if they bought it from BP Narangba (running joke about how you’d have to win Lottlo to buy petrol or diesel from there).
Emergency Response
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) arrived quickly after the 4:00 AM blast to extinguish the remaining flames. Interestingly, the audio from the scene captured individuals yelling as they fled into the darkness just after the QFES crew dampen downed the playing surface fire at the explosion site.
What’s in Store for Narangba This Easter?
It’s a frustrating way to kick off the holidays, especially for a club that relies so heavily on local volunteers. However, Narangba and the wider Moreton Bay region still have plenty of positive events lined up for the rest of the break to take our mind off the constant vandalism and increased crime happening in and around our Narangba community..
- Good Friday Easter Carnival: Heading up to the Caboolture Showgrounds today (10 AM – 4 PM) for rides and family fun.
- Redcliffe Markets: The Easter Extravaganza is running today and again on Easter Sunday.
- Sandstone Point Hotel: Their massive Easter Sunday Eggstravaganza (April 5) is always a highlight for the kids and families.
- Local Trails: If you’re looking for a quieter break, the local bushwalks around Narangba and the Moreton Bay area are in great condition for the long weekend.
Stay Updated
I will continue to keep an eye on the situation at the Rangers Rugby League grounds and share any news regarding the repairs to the turf. Or if anyone else turns up to look at the explosion site.
Please keep checking this page for live updates and more information as it becomes available or if you want to head to my Youtube channel to check out the videos, you can here – Troy Spro Youtube
If you have any CCTV or dashcam footage from the Narangba BP area or near the grounds between 3:00 AM and 4:30 AM this morning, please reach out to the club or local authorities.
