Scott Gardiner's home in Bellbird Park was severely damaged by the blaze, which broke out in the garage just after 10pm.

It took three fire crews an hour to bring it under control, but not before the roof of the single storey home had partially collapsed.

All occupants of the house escaped unharmed.

Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale said he understood Mr Gardiner had been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said $2000 would immediately be made available to the Gardiner family from the Mayor's Community Fund, which privately fundraises to help those in need.

“We'll make contact with him and see how else we can out... you'll find there'll be a lot of other people who'll come to his assistance,” he said.

“What makes a city is not what you do in good times, but how you help people in times when they need it.”

Fire investigators were called in to examine the site, but the blaze is not believed to be suspicious.