Police rescue woman from backyard of her burning Camillo home

Daryna Zadvirna and Sarah StegerThe West Australian
VideoWA Police footage of a dramatic rescue effort after a woman was trapped in the backyard of her burning home.

Police have described the dramatic moment they helped a woman escape a raging fire that destroyed her Camillo home after she became trapped in her backyard.

A police officer on patrol saw flames engulfing the Hemingway Drive home at about 7:30pm and quickly put in a call for assistance.

After receiving information that a resident may still be inside, he and other officers who had arrived on the scene forced entry through the garage into the burning home.

The group bravely searched for the resident inside, while other officers tried to gain access to the home’s garden through the neighbouring properties — while thick smoke blanketed the area.

Those officers quickly found a distressed and panicked standing in the back garden of the home.

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Camera IconThe flames engulfing the Camillo home. Credit: WA Police
Camera IconTwo officers brave the flames after reports of a person inside. Credit: WA Police

The West Australian was told she was in her garage when she heard a loud “bang” and “popping” sound - before seeing her roof ablaze.

It’s understood the woman then sprinted to the back fence and called triple-0, telling them “My house is on fire! My house is on fire!”.

While she managed to escape the fire, the woman was unable to get to safety from her garden.

Officers managed to evacuate her to safety over a fence, using a ladder and evacuated residents from neighbouring homes.

Camera IconThick smoke blanketed the area while firefighters tried to control the blaze.

The woman later confirmed her daughter — who had dropped her off only a few hours earlier — had luckily not been home.

It took eight fire crews just over half an hour to get the fire under control.

Initial reports said the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault in an air conditioning unit.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.

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