TWISTED metal and blackened timber were all that remained of the Daintree's first Anglican church yesterday.

The historic timber and tin building, which has been a home since 1940, burst into flames about 12.30pm yesterday.

By 1.30pm the building, on Upper Daintree Rd, was a smouldering wreck being hosed down by fire fighters.

Elderly brother and sister George and Lily Fischer had lived on the property since 1940, neighbour Bobbie Graham said.

Mrs Graham, 51, raced from her house when she heard flames crackling and saw smoke, she told The Cairns Post.

"We came up and made sure the old couple were out of the house," she said.

"It looked like the powerlines were going to come down."

The pair, who had a young female relative and small child staying with them, were visibly distraught, Mrs Graham said.

"Lily was in tears.

"They’ve lost absolutely everything.

"They didn’t get anything out – all their belongings, all their clothes."

Mossman Fire and Rescue Service officer-in-charge Lee Crimmins said the Fischers escaped harm, but heat from the blaze buckled the rear of a car parked on the property, singed tree tops surrounding the old church and sent a plume of black smoke billowing over the hills.

"There were flames 10-15m high issuing from all sides of the building," Captain Crimmins said.

Fire crews were at a community education day at the nearby Daintree Primary School when neighbours raised the alarm at 12.30pm.

"We were highlighting to the children to have smoke alarms and working batteries," Captain Crimmins said.

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