5 hours agoMon 29 Dec 2025 at 6:32am

A man was brought to Cairns Hospital in a life-threatening condition following a unit fire on Mahogany St, Manoora, Cairns (ABC News: Conor Byrne)

In short:

A man in his 50s remains in a critical condition with burns after a unit complex caught alight on Monday morning.

It took three fire crews to extinguish the blaze despite torrential rain falling in Cairns.

What's next?

A police investigation into the fire remains ongoing.

A man is fighting for life in hospital after he was badly burnt in a unit complex fire in Far North Queensland.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said the man in his 50s was taken to Cairns Hospital in a life-threatening condition with significant burns from a suburban unit fire.

The unit block in the Cairns suburb of Manoora was "well-involved" when firefighters were called to the scene about 10:40am, a Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said.

Despite torrential rain, it took three fire crews to extinguish the flames from outside the unit complex on the corner of Mahogany Street and Reservoir Road.

The fire service said all residents of the eight units were accounted for, but two units were damaged.

A spokesperson from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service said the injured man's condition remained critical.

Paramedics assessed two other people, but they declined to be taken to hospital.

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said a crime scene was declared about 11am.

Investigations into the cause of the fire remain ongoing.