Firefighters say a 20-year-old man rescued from a burning home in Brisbane’s south-west would have died had they arrived a few minutes later.

The house at Inala was destroyed by the fire at 11pm AEST last night.

Fire officer Gerd Gabriel said there were two men in the home at the time and one managed to get out by himself.

He said firefighters had to break down the back door to rescue the other man who was unconscious in a rear bedroom.

Mr Gabriel said those officers saved his life.

“It was quite intense heat, it took a few minutes to gain entry and get to the person for rescue,” he said.

“It is definitely the case that if we didn’t break in and rescue this person then I very much fear for his ability to survive this fire.”

The fire is being treated as suspicious and police are investigating reports of a violent disturbance at the property earlier in the day.