A fire near backburning operations in Darwin has destroyed a property housing scores of cars.

The blaze around Thorak Road in Knuckey Lagoon occurred near where backburning operations by firefighters have been underway in recent days, the owner of the property said.

The man, who wanted to be known only as Budd, said his house was saved but he was "gutted" about the cars, some of which were being stored on his property for other people.

It is believed up to 150 cars and several boats were being stored on the property, with few surviving the blaze.

"It was burning right [at] the back of our property, right over and we thought it was out and then it just flared up," he said.

"Cinders must've come in and all that, and it wiped us out."

Fire authorities said the cause of the blaze will be determined after an investigation.