House fire breaks out near primary school in Brisbane

Emergency teams have managed to contain a fire which tore through the garage of a two-storey unit block in Balmoral, in Brisbane's east.

Thick black smoke began billowing from the house on Collings Street, near Saint Peter and Paul’s Catholic school, after the fire broke out around 2.20pm (AEST).

Four crews were called to the scene and brought the fire under control just before 4pm.

No one was found inside the unit following an initial sweep of the building, according to a spokeswoman from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. 

Fire investigators will evaluate the scene and the cause of the blaze is not yet known.