Mt Pleasant house fire suspected arson after neighbours hear loud bang and car flee scene

A house has been badly damaged by fire in Mt Pleasant, with firefighters suspecting the blaze was deliberately lit.

The words, “Pay your debt dog”, have been daubed in thick red paint on the driveway of the Ullapool Road property.

Emergency services were called to the home about 3.17am on Wednesday, with DFES understood to believe the fire started at the front door.

Neighbours reported hearing a loud bang before a car was heard screeching away from the scene.

The fire caused significant damage throughout the home, with the roof caved in and smoke marks blackening the garage and front facade.

Police confirmed there were no injuries in the blaze but the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Nearby cars appeared to have been spared.

Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform to tackle the heavy flames and smoke, while a section of Ullapool Road remained closed until about 7am.

A white arson squad van arrived outside the property shortly after 8am, with officers setting up blue and white police tape around the scene.

Authorities are investigating the blaze and whether there is a link between it and the driveway graffiti.

Neighbours around the house described the “frightening” scene they witnessed.

Lina Davison said she was woken by loud bangs.

“The first thing that I heard was the two bangs and that was at about 10 past three, then I had a look out the window and I saw fire coming from the back of the house on the top of the roof.

“Then all the fire engines arrived, and I came outside.

“It was quite frightening, it was shocking.

“I didn’t expect that to happen on this nice little quiet street, but I was more concerned if there was people inside, that was my first worry, but then I realised that people went there on holiday, so that was good.”

Another nearby neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described the graffiti as “confronting” and said she heard bangs and screeching tyres.

“I was woken by a loud bang, and then a screech of tyres and a car just taking off, thinking it was one of the hoons that come along here quite often,” she said.

She said the incident left her and many in the community shaking.

“I saw flames coming out of the roof of that house, and it was really horrific actually to see the flames,” she said.

“Then after the aftermath of the whole thing, that really rattled us all, rattled the whole neighbourhood.”

Another neighbour said the incident was shocking and out of character for the neighbourhood.

“We woke up at about 3.30am to the sound of the siren, and we thought it might be a car accident, I didn’t think much of it at the time until we saw the lights for the fire brigade,” she said.

“I looked through the window, and there was fire and we started panicking, we were just worried about it extending to other houses, and we didn’t know who was inside the house.

“One of the neighbours had already called emergency service, which was good, and basically couldn’t go back to sleep after that, I’m just really shocked by the whole thing.”

Police are urging anyone with information, CCTV, dash-cam or mobile phone vision relating to the fire, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online via www.crimestopperswa.com.au. Reports can be made anonymously.