Fire engulfs home at Winchester Street, Hamilton

A mother miraculously escaped a Brisbane house which exploded in flames last night, the intensity so fierce neighbours were forced to jump their back fence. The family is today sifting through the charred remains of their home.

The owner of a Brisbane house that exploded in flames last night is sifting through the charred remains of the place they have called home for the past 10 years.

The two-storey house on Winchester Street in Hamilton was destroyed by a fierce inferno after flames took hold around 5.25pm Friday afternoon.

It is understood the mother was home when the blaze broke out while the rest of the family - the father, two children and the dog - were out at soccer training when the Queenslander became “well-involved”.

The charred remains of the house at Hamilton which was destroyed by fire last night. Photo: Isabella Magee

She ran from the home when she smelt the smoke and the family stayed at the neighbour’s house overnight.

All that is left today is a boat parked in the yard, with the house reduced to a smouldering wreck.

Despite the tragedy, supporting neighbours and friends are helping the family get through.

“I just want to say a very big thank you to the amazing firies and my amazing neighbours who have been so supportive,” the owner said.

Firefighters at the scene of a huge house fire on Winchester Street at Hamilton. Picture: Glen Norris

Six firefighting crews were last night on scene quickly, working to douse the blaze and protect neighbouring properties.

The fire was out by 7pm and everyone from the house and nearby unit complex was safe.

The boat remains parked in the front yard. Photo: Isabella Magee

Paramedics were on standby at the scene.

In footage from a highrise supplied by Jason Isbester (in the player above), the inferno could be seen clearly from kilometres away.

Next door neighbours Graeme and Michelle Cleary heard “bangs and explosions” then made a hurried dash to safety.

Emergency crews are on the scene of a large fire at Hamilton. Picture: Glen Norris

Mr Cleary said “the noise and heat” was “a shock in the heart”.

“We had to go out the back way, jump on the roof of our little alfresco veranda, jump on the garbage bin and out that way,” Mr Cleary said.

“It was just so quick.”

“We couldn’t get out the front door ... it was just red,” Mrs Cleary told The Courier-Mail.

The Winchester St blaze could be seen in surrounding suburbs. Picture: Nic Holashur

“The little windows in our door, it was the brightest glow you’ve ever seen.”

The couple said they could feel the heat of the inferno through the door.

The blaze engulfed neighbouring fences and even smashed the windows of a property next door, other neighbours said.

“We’ve got one outwards facing window ... it had broken and fire was coming in,” they said.

“We jumped the fence out the back and got out with the dogs,”

“Everything important to (us) is right here.”