Police continuing investigations into Port Denison house fire, unable to confirm circumstances

Police are yet to confirm the circumstances surrounding the Dongara fire which engulfed a house and claimed a life last week. On the morning of Friday, May 10, fire crews attended the Port Denison house on Ocean Drive, arriving just before 11am. The fire was contained and controlled by noon, but one person died as a result. On Thursday, police confirmed they were still investigating the matter, with forensic identification taking place. A spokesperson said they were unable to confirm how the fire had started, or if the person who died had been identified. Police would not confirm if the fire was being treated as suspicious. Neighbours of the property told the Geraldton Guardian last week they believed the occupant of the house was a male. It is understood a German shepherd was rescued from the property and kept in a nearby house. One neighbour said she initially thought it was fog when she first noticed the blaze. “I stuck my head up and realised it was smoke. It just went up so quickly, so so quickly,” the neighbour said. “And it was black smoke. As black as anything.” Another neighbour told the Geraldton Guardian last week they heard “a big bang” and likened it to a gas bottle exploding.