A Queensland man used insect spray as a flamethrower to kill cockroaches, blowing up his Mount Isa kitchen in the process.

Luckily, the three children in the home, aged nine, 11 and 17, were unharmed after the Wednesday night explosion, which occured about 8pm.

Nobody was seriously injured when the explosion blew out the kitchen. Credit:Lydia Lynch

Not so lucky was their father, who was taken to Mount Isa Hospital with “abrasions” to his face and arms.

“It looks like the guy was using pest spray in the kitchen then a flame was lit which caused a small fire,” a police spokesman said.