Man dies after raging house fire in Brisbane

A 66-year-old man has died after suffering extensive burns in a ferocious house fire.

The fire started at Hugh Walker's Brisbane home and spread to both of his neighbours.

In footage one man can be seen smashing glass, desperately trying to get everyone out of the houses in Forbes Street in Hawthorne in the city's east.

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Hugh's wife Julie made it out but neighbours realised her husband was still inside.

Peter Tarrant was among those who rushed to the burning home to get him out.

"I was asking her 'where's Hugh, where's Hugh'," he said.

"She didn't know where he was, she thought he was still in the house, so I approached the front door and Hugh basically came out, he was literally on fire."

Locals made desperate attempts to keep Mr Walker alive on the side of the road, hosing him with water.

"Neighbours had the garden hose, I had him by my legs just watering down obviously because he was substantially burnt, so just kept watering and watering until the ambulance arrived," Paul MacKay said.

Darren Welsh from Queensland Fire and Rescue said Mr Walker suffered 80 per cent burns.

"The gentleman had fairly significant burns " he said.

Police said his wife heard a loud bang and then saw smoke coming from the dishwasher and also from the rear of the home. 

Mr Walker used a garden hose to try to fight the fire but the flames were too much.

The 66-year-old died overnight in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

Only one of the three homes which caught fire was saved.

Two other people were taken to hospital.

Police are investigating.