Arson: Teenager injured, family home destroyed at West Lakes Shore

Police have released CCTV footage of a person wanted for questioning after a suspicious house fire destroyed a family home and left a boy with burns.

Police have released CCTV footage of a person wanted for questioning after a suspicious house fire at West Lakes, which left a 15 year old boy with burns to his arms and a family home destroyed.

Police say the man pictured was walking in the area around the time of the fire.

The teenage boy was taken to hospital on Sunday with burns after his family’s western suburbs home was destroyed after a brush fence was set alight.

About 1.30am Sunday, the family of five were forced to flee their Lambert Avenue home after they were woken by the crackling sounds of fire burning the fence.

All were able to escape before MFS firefighters fought the blaze but the home could not be saved, while neighbours were also evacuated.

Initial investigations suggest the brush fence, along a laneway at the side of the property, was set alight before the fire spread to the house.

Fire cause investigators and detectives attended the scene on Sunday morning, and neighbours and businesses have been asked to review any CCTV.

The family were dressed in hospital scrubs when they returned briefly to the burnt-out home on Sunday morning, but they made no comment to reporters.

Neighbour Tamara Killian said she woke to find smoke in her bedroom and went to investigate.

“I just ran straight out the front and there was so much smoke blowing down the street, it was quite windy,” she said.

“There was a firefighter just running down the street and he said the brush fence was on fire, but we didn’t know how bad it was.”

House fire on Lambert Ave, West Lakes Shore. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A family of five escaped the home, but a 15-year-old boy was left with minor injuries. Picture: Keryn Stevens

House fire on Lambert Ave, West Lakes Shore. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Ms Killian said firefighters were on the scene for about two hours while the fire was brought under control.

She said it was concerning to think that an arsonist could be responsible for the incident.

“Seeing that the house was so close (to the fence), what was their intent?” she said.

“It’s pretty scary to think about.”

The blaze came after another brush fence on nearby Newcombe Avenue was set alight about 3pm last Sunday afternoon.

Resident Lucy Woolfall said her husband, Peter, was at home at the time and rushed to extinguish the fire, which started close to a boat parked in the yard.

“Neighbours helped put it out,” she said.

“Peter said the flames were very very high, so, if they weren’t home, God knows what would have happened.

“It’s very concerning.”

Ms Woolfall, whose property is also beside a laneway, said she was frightened by the latest fire and hopes police can catch whoever is responsible.

“I actually just thought it was kids playing a prank,” she said.

“But, hearing about what happened last night, it’s really scary now.

“Someone can actually die in the fire, especially during the nighttime.”

Anyone with information on either fire is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.