Man burned in Cairns boat fire

A man is being treated for facial burns after a 12-metre yacht burst into flames at the Cairns marina.

Firefighters spent nearly an hour putting out the blaze which started about midday on Friday.

Inspector Clint Tunnie told AAP huge plumes of smoke could seen coming from yacht.

"From about two kilometres out, we could see thick smoke from across the city," he said.

The extent of the man's injuries isn't yet known, but he is being treated at Cairns Base Hospital.

The boat was badly damaged.