Overnight Crime Wrap: Grange single-storey home destroyed by fire

A single-storey home described as “worse than [the] Wingfield dump” and subject to multiple council complaints because of its upkeep has been destroyed in a suspicious fire overnight.

The outside of the gutted property. Picture: Dean Martin/AAP

A contentious western suburbs home that has been the subject of several complaints to the local council has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A blaze broke out at the Yorkshire St, Grange house just before 2am and it took 30 MFS firefighters about an hour to extinguish the inferno.

However, the house could not be saved, with the fire causing part of the roof to collapse, leaving a damage bill of about $350,000.

The occupant of the home managed to escape without injury.

Police believe the fire was deliberately lit and are investigating.

MFS fire commander Rainer Kiessling said authorities had trouble battling the blaze because of the state of the property.

“On arrival we were faced with a property with a very heavy fire load due to a lot of clutter and hoarding on the premises,” he said.

“The initial attack crews had issues with access to the house.”

Fire investigators at the Yorkshire Street property. Picture: Dean Martin/AAP

Mr Kiessling urged people with cluttered properties to take heed.

“The fire service stresses that if you have a lot of clutter or hoarding around your house, or you’re a collector, that at the very least you have working smoke alarms; that you have a clear path of egress to get out of the house, or alternatively to let firefighters get into the house,” he said.

Neighbour Roger Williams said he was not surprised the house went up in flames, describing the property as “worse than Wingfield dump”.

“It was a big fire hazard with the junk and stuff that was stored there at the front and the back (and) the back was all overgrown,” he said.

“People here in Yorkshire St and on my (street) have been onto the council for years to get someone done to the property but nothing was ever done.

“They should have stepped in earlier.”

The inside of the Grange home. Picture: Dean Martin/AAP

However, Mr Williams said he felt sorry for the resident for losing his home.

Alana Louch, 35, and partner Ross Lepro, 32, sprang into action as soon as they realised their neighbour’s house was ablaze.

“I smelt fire, or the smell of something burning,” Ms Louch said.

“I looked out my window (and) we ran out.

“The flames were just coming out and it went up in a matter of seconds.

“It’s a bit of a shock — We were just worried that either side was going to catch on fire as well.”

The pair rushed outside and grabbed garden hoses to try to douse the flames but the inferno was too intense.

Kon Stefanidis also tried in vain to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

“But it was too wild — It was out of control,” he said.

“I’m shocked. I’ve known (the resident) all my life so it’s sad for everyone. For him, he’s lost everything.”

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, was woken about 2am to the sound of people yelling in the street.

“We were all worried that the resident was in there,” she said.

“He’s well known around the place. It’s heartbreaking for him because he had everything in there.”