Young child starts Mackay house fire

A young child has "inadvertently" started a house fire in central Queensland after apparently setting a curtain alight.

Firefighters say the home in Mackay caught alight on Friday morning and spread quickly, causing extensive damage.

A woman and young child were able to escape the blaze, along with two dogs but Mackay Fire Superintendent Steve De Pinto said at least one cat died in the fire.

He said it appeared the child had accidentally started the fire by setting alight a curtain.

"At these early stages it looks like a young child may have inadvertently caused the fire," Supt De Pinto told reporters.

Three crews fought to quickly contain the blaze.