The man was asleep when the fire started, said QFES acting fire captain Gary Baker. 

“He awoke to the smell of smoke and was able to get out in time,” he said. 

“He is very lucky to be alive.” 

Captain Baker said firefighters were called to fight the caravan fire at about 6am, Sunday, in Cloncurry. There were no casualties. 

The caravan was in the backyard of a house in Ham Street. 

It took about 15 minutes to get the fire under control. Two fire trucks and seven firefighters attended the scene.

 “There were LPG gas cylinders going off which made it difficult,” Captain Baker said. 

The cause of the fire was unknown. 

“I don’t know that to any certainty so I wouldn’t like to speculate at this stage," Captain Baker said. “Police will certainly investigate further, that’s their role.” 

Cloncurry resident Grant Hextell captured a photograph at the scene and posted it under his signature Cloncurryphotography on Instagram and Facebook. He first thought the fire might have been fireworks. 

“It is reassuring and fantastic for our town to know, that the servicemen and women in our fire brigade are quicker than startled gazelles in a time of crisis,” he wrote on Instagram.