Arson blamed for hostel fire

IT COULD be weeks before detectives solve the mystery surrounding a suspicious fire which gutted a Thulimbah hostel last week.
The Drover’s Rest Hostel on Granite Belt Drive was well alight when emergency services were called to the property at 10.30pm on Thursday.
Stanthorpe police and members of Queensland Fire and Rescue Service combed what was left of the 12-bedroom structure collecting evidence over several days.
The new and almost complete hostel, which was vacant pending reconstruction due to design flaws, is owned by Jan Idec and had been in the pipeline for six years.
Mr Idec told local media he was devastated to find the site engulfed by flames and blamed arsonists.