Old car catches fire and destroys home

An Eaton woman had a lucky escape after her Lavender Way home went up in flames on Friday.

Vanee Horsford said she came home from a day out and was having lunch when she said she smelled smoke.

“I thought someone was burning toys or plastic, so I came outside and was looking everywhere for the smoke but I couldn’t see it,” she said.

“I walked back into the carport and see my old car burning, I see smoke coming from my old car.

“All the neighbours came out and rang triple zero for me because I have no phone.

“They have been supporting me.”

Emergency services received the triple zero call at 2.19pm, with nine crews between the Bunbury and Australind Eaton volunteer fire brigades as well as the Bunbury fire brigade attending.

The flames quickly spread from Miss Horsford’s car and into the roof of the garage and the rest of the house.

“I’m all OK because I was out here, so I was lucky I didn’t go back in the house,” Miss Horsford said.

“By the time the firefighters came it was already in the roof.”

The fire was contained by 2.45pm and eventually brought under control at 3pm.

Traffic was temporarily blocked at the Eaton Drive end of the street by police.

While the exact cause remains unclear, the fire has been deemed accidental by DFES and was contained to just the one property.

The damage bill has been estimated at about $600,000.

Miss Horsford said she would be OK thanks to having home insurance.