A home in Perth‘s east has gone up in flames, but it’s what was found inside that’s now at the centre of a police investigation.
The Guildford blaze, believed to have been sparked by a lithium-ion battery, uncovered a suspected stash of stolen goods.
The surprising find from behind closed doors came after the century-old home crumbled.
What started as a house fire quickly became a police investigation, as an allegedly stolen silver Lexus tucked away in the backyard was towed away.
The fire started around 8.30am after a lithium-ion battery from an e-bike sent smoke and flames up Bank Street.
About 25 firefighters raced to the scene to contain the blaze.
“On initial arrive, [there was] extensive [damage] throughout the house,” Rob Johnstone from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said.
“Crews conducted that initial search [in] tough conditions.”
Neighbours rushed out to find the home, which was built in 1925, completely engulfed.
“In older houses, once it gets into that old jarrah with a strong heat source, it burns very well,” Johnstone said.
Firefighters handed over the scene to police who are investigating an alleged treasure trove of stolen goods discovered in the garage, which was untouched by the fire.
Multiple electric bikes and e-scooters were seized by authorities and taken away.
A 40-year-old occupant was arrested at the scene.
Fire investigators were told the e-bike battery was flat and had been charging for several hours before it failed.
An hour earlier in an unrelated incident, another house in Redcliffe was engulfed by fire and destroyed.
“Just heard a lot of popping and banging so I came out the back to have a look and hence that,” a witness told 9News.
Firefighters’ efforts were hindered by clutter inside and outside the house.
“What all that stuff did as well was it made the fire spread very quickly, made it a very hot fire,” Paul Armstrong from Kiara Fire and Rescue said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
