Complete stranger helps family of eight escape burning house

A Queensland family of eight has escaped a burning house after receiving the help of a complete stranger.

The father of the six children inside, David Bond, burst through the back door of the home to rescue the sleeping family on the outskirts of Ipswich, but only after a passing driver spotted the fire and stopped to bash on the door.

"I would say definitely saved their lives," Andrew McMahon from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said.

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Bond lives at the home with his partner and six children.

Four of them quickly got out safely, before he went back in for the remaining two- and four-year-old children.

"My brother had to run back in and save his two babies," Bond's sister, Kaylee, said.

The family lost everything in the blaze and were treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation, and taken to Ipswich Hospital.

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Due to the amount of damage, it could take firefighters some time to determine the cause of the blaze, but the family believe it may have started from a dryer on the balcony.

However, in a twist, police combed through the wrecked property and paid particular attention to at least a dozen cars and motorbikes.

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They called in tow trucks, and several vehicles were seized and taken away.

9News understands police are investigating whether the cars are stolen.