Two Western Australian men face serious criminal charges following a deliberately lit house fire that endangered a family just weeks before Christmas. The incident occurred in the early hours of December 10th at a Maddington residence in Perth’s southeastern suburbs.
Emergency services responded to the Westfield Street property around 4:30 AM after flames engulfed the home, completely destroying the structure. Fire investigators determined the blaze originated in the carport area under suspicious circumstances. Security footage subsequently revealed an individual present near the home at the time the fire began.
A mother and her three children sustained smoke inhalation injuries during the incident and required urgent hospital treatment. Their rescue was facilitated by neighbor Cory Harsant, who witnessed the emergency from his backyard and took immediate action.
“I saw the mother and her three boys from my property,” Harsant told reporters. “I went to the back fence that connects our properties, broke it down, and helped them to safety.”
Police have since charged a 36-year-old man from Wanneroo and a 28-year-old man from Greenwood with criminal damage by fire and endangering life, health, or safety of persons. The Wanneroo suspect is scheduled to appear before Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday, while the Greenwood man will face court proceedings next week.