Fire sparked by barbecue destroys couple's Gold Coast home

A Gold Coast couple's home has been destroyed after their barbecue sparked a fire on their back deck.

The blaze started when hot oil in the barbecue's drip tray caught alight, and quickly turned into a raging inferno that engulfed the top level of the Ormeau property.

Neighbour Dane Rasmussen said he heard the gas ignite before the flames took hold.

"Within five minutes the whole house was starting to go up," he said.

"Once the roof caved in – with probably six to eight-metre high flames - it went up in a big hurry."

Eighteen fire crews from Pimpama and Beenleigh attended the property and managed to stop it spreading to nearby homes.

Ben Ireland from Queensland's Fire and Emergency service said it was lucky a smoke alarm was installed at the property.

"We were able to save some valuable property to the homeowner," he said.

"Thankfully the owners heard the sounds of the fire but more importantly heard a working smoke alarm which has alerted them to the fire and allowed them to escape the property".

An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.