Police hunt arsonist
FAMILIES who woke to a wall of flames are lucky to have escaped after an arsonist set fire to bushland near homes in Gooseberry Hill.
Ben Calder woke to the sound of screams from his sister late at night on February 1 as the fire came within metres of his family home.
“It was completely glowing orange,” he said.
“We were scared everything was going to catch on fire and burn the house down.”
Mr Calder managed to smash through a glass window of his home and got his family to safety.
He was taken to hospital and treated for small cuts to his nose, while his brotherin- law was treated for smoke inhalation.
About 60 Department of Fire and Emergency Services officers were at the scene of the fire, which started about 11.30pm in bushland near the intersection of Watsonia Road and John Farrant Drive.
The firefighters from 39 crews, including Canning Vale, Ellenbrook, Kiara and Kalamunda managed to have the blaze under control by about 2am, with an allclear sent out at 7.15am.
Detective senior constable Jim Leighton- Jones said the fire was believed to be deliberately lit, having torn through about 5ha of bushland threatening lives and homes.
Anyone with information about this offence or with dash cam footage from the area around the time of the fire, should make a report online at crimestopperswa. com. au or call 1800 333 000.
Damage caused by the deliberately lit fire in bushland near homes in Gooseberry Hill.
