Home destroyed in fire

An Eaton family have escaped with nothing but the clothes on their backs after fire gutted their home on Tuesday night, leaving them with a damage bill estimated at $420,000.

The family of six were home at the time and the fire is believed to have started in a Ford Falcon which was parked in the carport and exploded.

The single father of two girls and three boys was alerted to the danger by his four-year-old daughter and all escaped injury.

Firefighters were called to the Clydesdale Drive residence shortly after 10pm on Tuesday by which time flames had begun to threaten neighbouring homes.

Supported by Bunbury volunteer and career firefighters, Eaton-Australind Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service had the fire under control within an hour of arrival.

Officer-in-charge Trevor Slater said that, unaware the family had escaped to safety, fire crews with the aid of breathing apparatus began a search of the premises on arrival.

‘‘The fire started in the car and the fuel tank exploded in the carport and with the south-south-east winds we had, carried it up through the roof spaces into the ceiling and across the house,’’ Mr Slater said

‘‘When we arrived, there were neighbours battling the fire with garden hoses but the house was fully engulfed, so they weren’t making much headway.’’

Neighbour Steve Ridings said he heard a car alarm go off, followed by a loud bang.

‘‘We thought someone had hit a pole,’’ he said.

As strong winds fanned the flames, worried residents climbed roofs with hoses to douse flying embers and acted quickly to evacuate an elderly woman living alone in a neighbouring house threatened by the fire.

The Arson Squad have visited the scene and are investigating the cause of the fire but Detective Senior Constable Jeremy Peterson said it was too early to determine if the fire was suspicious or not.

‘‘We’re still trying to establish a cause and origin,’’ Det. Sen. Const. Peterson said.

The house and contents are insured but the car is not. The family is staying with relatives until their application for emergency accommodation is processed.