Boxes of irreplaceable family photos and keepsakes were among the items destroyed by a fire in Drayton resident John Handley's shed last night.


The cause of the Darling Street blaze has prompted a warning from firefighters about the need for caution when disposing of hot embers.


Crews were called to a three-bay shed at the rear of Mr Handley's home at 7.46pm.


The 73-year-old said he had dumped hot embers from his fireplace on a pile beside the shed before hosing them down with water about lunch time yesterday.


However, the embers caused a fire to creep along vegetation at the rear of the shed before igniting the shed and contents.


Read more at The Toowoomba Chronicle