Devastated Perth homeowners say clear water jug sparked fire that gutted family home

A couple whose house was gutted by a fire have claimed a common household item in their backyard sparked the massive blaze.

A family in Perth’s northeastern suburbs have claimed a common household item is to blame for the blaze that gutted their home.

It happened last week in Ellenbrook when, according to the homeowners, a clear jug of water left sitting on top of a dog kennel in direct sunlight sparked the blaze.

The Quioc family believe sunlight, focused through a jug of water, set fire to a dog kennel. Picture: Seven News.

“I know it’s outrageous, even my wife thought it was,” homeowner Joel Quioc told Seven News.

But he seems to have proof.

CCTV vision from his backyard shows the jug begin to smoulder over a half-hour period, the direct sunlight apparently being focused by the water into a hot pinpoint.

The fire quickly spread and gutted their Ellenbrook home. Picture: Seven News.

Even the Quioc’s dog, sensing something isn’t right, begins barking in the direction of his kennel, moments before it bursts into flames.

The fire spread, and gutted a number of rooms inside the home, which had undergone renovations only six months prior.

“To come home to that was quite devastating,” Mr Quioc said.

It's one of 249 structure fires in WA over the last two months. Picture: Seven News.

Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said they’re yet to determine the official cause of the blaze.

The Quioc family had the property insured, and have managed to secure a furnished rental for six months.

The blaze is one of 249 structure fires reported in WA over the past two months — Seven News reports that’s 60 more than the same period in 2022.