A multi-million-dollar luxury holiday home on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays has been reduced to embers because of a malfunction in an outdoor barbecue.
Thirteen people were inside the home when they awoke to a fire consuming a kitchen-style barbecue on the verandah early on Tuesday morning.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said it only took another 10 minutes for the flames to get hold of the entire property.
No-one was injured but the house collapsed due to the extent of the blaze.
The property, on Coral Sea Avenue, featured a wraparound infinity-edge swimming pool and had seven bedrooms and bathrooms.
The house has previously been listed for sale at offers above $4 million.
It was managed by Laguna Pacific, a property group that offers exclusive and luxurious properties around Queensland.
The company advertised a competition in May to stay in the house George Clooney lived in while filming Ticket To Paradise.
The competition was for four nights and valued at $40,000, half of which was attributed to staying at the house.
What happened?
Local firefighters and paramedics based on the island were called to Coral Sea Avenue around 5.40am.
A second fire crew was sent from Airlie Beach with Whitsunday Water Police to help them.
Aviation Fire and Rescue also responded to the emergency but by then the house was engulfed.
QFES Acting Inspector of Mackay and the Whitsundays Damien Phillips said the barbecue was connected to a hard-plumbed gas line.
"That gas line was leaking ... because it was a gas-fuelled fire, it was difficult to maintain and get a hold of very quickly," he said.
"There was no isolation points and the occupants just wanted to get out."
A woman in her 40s was treated for smoke inhalation but no-one was seriously injured.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said neighbours were evacuated as a precaution.
Acting Inspector Phillips said there were things barbecue owners could do to ensure this did not happen.
"Those things are regularly cleaning the barbecue, checking the cylinder before being turned on," he said.
"We can also test the gas lines to make sure they're not leaking, and how we do that is just bring some soapy water on the line and if you see a bubble, that means it's leaking."