CHILD arsonists are suspected of starting a series of fires that threatened property in the small Tableland township of Speewah yesterday. 

As authorities warn of a potentially devastating fire season, children on bicycles were spotted leaving the scene of a blaze that came within metres of a Ganyan Drive house before crews could get it under control.

Four separate fires mysteriously started in the street early yesterday afternoon, prompting fears arson was to blame.

Fire brigade bosses last night warned property and lives could have been lost if the blazes had started in peak fire season.

Ganyan Drive resident Michelle Ryan told The Weekend Post she was at home when she heard a "roaring inferno" and rushed to the front of her property to see a wall of flames ripping through more than 100 golden cane palms.

Firefighters managed to pull the fire up less than 20m from Ms Ryan’s house.

"I was terrified," she said.

"I thought I was going to lose everything.

"When I saw it was out of control and I saw the flames engulf the golden palms and head towards the house, it was the worst thing you could ever imagine."

Ms Ryan was convinced the fire was deliberately lit.

She wants the culprit to face the full force of the law.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officer Brett Weston said fire crews had seen children riding bikes away from the fire as they arrived.

He said two crews, the nearby Kuranda urban and Speewah rural, rushed to the fire at 3pm and made a direct attack to protect the home under threat.

Crews had the fire under control in minutes and he confirmed arson may be to blame.

"We are lucky the bad fire weather has not kicked in, which will happen in the next four to six weeks, because we could have lost properties and lives," Mr Weston said.

Heavy growth, particularly on the Tableland west of Mareeba and Atherton, meant fire crews were bracing for one of the worst fire seasons on record.

A police spokesman said the causes of the fires were still being investigated but there were no suspicious circumstances at this stagep.

Also yesterday, Portsmith squatters were threatened by fire as gusty winds fanned flames toward their camps.

Firefighters were called to Fearnley St about 11.50am before rushing to the grassed area between Cook and Comport streets.

An industrial bin and other items were burned just metres from a dome tent and cars but no one was injured.

Emergency services also rushed to a fire in the kitchen of a house at Romney St, Kamerunga.

The fire was extinguished before fire fighters arrived at the scene.

The kitchen had minor damage.

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