A charity doorknocker has died in a blaze that destroyed a historic pub on Queensland's Darling Downs.
The 26-year-old man from Brisbane was one of 12 people inside the Tattersalls Club Hotel at Pittsworth, near Toowoomba, when it was engulfed by flames about 2.30am on Thursday.
He was the only one who was unable to escape.
Detective Inspector Dave Isherwood said the man, one of eight visitors at the hotel, was in town to doorknock on behalf of a charity and went to bed about 2am.
The man's colleagues noticed he was missing immediately after they escaped the blaze but there was nothing they or rescuers could do.
"Unfortunately, the building was so well alight emergency crews couldn't get to that location," Det Insp Isherwood said.
Emergency crews had to wait until late Thursday morning for the rubble to be deemed safe enough to enter before they could search for the missing man.
"It's subsequently been confirmed that the remains of a deceased person may have been located at the hotel," Det Insp Isherwood said.
Det Insp Isherwood said it was remarkable the inferno at the pub, which was built more than a century ago, didn't claim any more lives.
"The fire quickly spread, mainly because it's wooden, so I think the other occupants would be very thankful that they got out of the fire," he said.
"It was very intense, apparently it took hold very quickly."
Forensic officers are examining the scene and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
But Det Insp Isherwood said initial investigations suggested the fire, which appeared to have started in the pub's accommodation, was not suspicious.
Michael Carpenter, co-owner of the nearby Pittsworth Hotel Motel, said a local church group looked after the dead man's colleagues at his premises on Thursday morning before they gave police their statements and headed back to Brisbane.
They were only able to grab their phones and wallets while escaping and were still trying to comprehend the loss of their work mate, he said.
"They were just talking about it before and were tearing up, which you would," Mr Carpenter told AAP.
Mr Carpenter said explosions from the fire, about a block away, had woken him up.
"It was just like bullets going off," he said.
"That's all everyone heard firstly - big loud cracks and then she just went up."
