Boaties lucky to escape Gold Coast blaze

Boaties on the Gold Coast have been lucky to escape as two houseboats became engulfed by flames at Jacobs Well.

The owner of the larger boat, Phil Page, had gone to rescue a mate stranded on the water, when it's thought an electrical fault ignited his cruiser and started the blaze.

The five people who managed to flee were rescued by others sailing nearby.

Firefighters battled the blaze for an hour, which was fed by large amounts of fuel.

The group smelled the smoke before the saw the fire.

Phil Page said, "We both lost everything. We both lived, both families lived on the two boats.

"You were just never going to stop it. It was instantly on fire."

Emergency crews were called to the blaze at about 2.15pm(AEST) to find the boats well alight offshore.

A spokesperson from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service said one of the boats had completely burnt to the waterline, while crews worked to extinguish the other vessel.

The Queensland Ambulance Service said five people were assessed.

The owner of the smaller boat was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation.

All involved consider themselves lucky, and while they lost their houseboats and possessions, they are happy to have escaped with their lives.