Huntriss Road fires: Neighbour describes terrifying moment houses went up in flames in Doubleview

Neighbours have described the terrifying crackling of a nearby inferno at their unit complex in Perth’s northern suburbs, as another blaze on the same street gutted another home.

Separate blazes kicked off within minutes of each other along Huntriss Road on Wednesday afternoon, with the first near the intersection of Newborough Street in Doubleview, about 3pm.

WATCH FOOTAGE OF THE TERRIFYING FIRE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The second was reported around 3.08pm just 500 metres down the road, near the intersection of Moorland Street. Both fires were in single storey units.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ west coastal district officer Michael Jones confirmed one unit was gutted in the Huntriss Road inferno, with another two units copping heat and smoke damage.

“The fire started in unit two, and has spread to the other units in the complex,” he said.

“We’ve managed to stop the fire going to surrounding properties in the area.

“There were three units, all have been affected, one has been totally destroyed.”

Mr Jones said it took crews about an hour to get the Huntriss Road blaze under control.

“The wind actually blew the fire and smoke away from the neighbouring properties and into the driveway, which (was) favourable,” he said.

Arson Squad officers have been sent to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fires.

Maria Pothin, who lives in one of the units along the busy street, was home in a neighbouring unit when the Moorland Street fire started.

“I was at home, sitting on my phone, next minute, I heard a crackling, and (there was) a smell,” Ms Pothin said.

“I quickly ran out, opened the door, and the neighbour’s carport was lit, (in) flames and everything.

“So I quickly grabbed my bag, grabbed my mobile phone, and there was a gentleman, a very kind gentleman, said, ‘run, run, run’.

“I just bolted, and I’ve been shaking ever since because my house is just opposite.”

Ms Pothin said she’s unsure whether her home has been damaged at all, but that she’s glad she is safe.

Another neighbour in the complex, David Foster, said he was about to sit down to “have a cup of tea and relax” when he, too, smelled smoke.

“I came outside to investigate on my patio, and then I saw (at) the neighbour’s behind me directly, and there was a raging inferno in her carport area, which is only about five yards from my patio,” he said.

“It very, very big and very full on. I didn’t hear anything apart from crackling, things falling, and I just thought I’d better get out of here as soon as possible.”

Mr Foster described the blaze as roughly six metres high and wide, engulfing the whole carport area in flames.

It’s believed no one was home at the time of the blaze.

Huntriss Road was swiftly closed in both directions between Newborough and Moorland streets.

Fire investigators and Arson Squad officers have been sent to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fires.

A police spokesman said the cause of the blazes remain “undetermined” at this stage, and advised members of the public to avoid the area.

DFES issued structure fire advice for smoke in the area, including the suburbs of Doubleview, Gwelup, Innaloo and Karrinyup.

Police are urging anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area around the time of the fires, or who has CCTV, dash-cam, or mobile phone vision, to make an online report to Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperswa.com.au or call 1800 333 000.