Police say e-cigarette likely behind Wandina car fire

Police say an e-cigarette was behind a destructive car fire on Saturday afternoon that damaged seven vehicles in a suburban shopping centre carpark. Witnesses say they heard a loud bang — “like a gun going off” — on Saturday afternoon in 40C heat at the Seacrest Shopping Centre, with the blaze leaving a damage bill of at least $125,000, which is likely to rise. WA Police shift supervisor Sgt Jeremy Ashworth-Preece said the device likely overheated, reaching a “critical point” and setting soft furnishings alight. The incident was ruled an accident but he said it served as an important safety reminder. “Most people are aware not to leave children and pets in a car on a 40C day but it’s important not to leave fire risks too,” he said. According to Sgt Ashworth-Preece, fire risks include pressurised devices such as hairspray cans and charging devices. “On a 40C day, temperatures can reach 65C-plus inside a vehicle,” he said. Shoppers and Wandina residents were left shaken by the harrowing event. Ray Fisher, whose Mitsubishi Triton ute was seriously damaged, claimed nobody in the shopping centre could find a fire extinguisher as his uninsured vehicle — and his only means of getting to work — went up in flames. “I just had to sit back and watch it burn,” he said. Seacrest Shopping Centre was contacted about its fire emergency plans and infrastructure, but declined to comment. Annette O’Brien, another damaged vehicle owner, said: “I’ve never seen a car go up like that before”. A Wandina resident, who previously volunteered for fire services in NSW, said he heard the explosion from his home and came down to see if he could help. “It sounded like a gun going off,” he said. At this stage, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services cannot confirm if an explosion occurred but a loud noise was reported by witnesses. Nobody was injured but one woman was taken by St John Ambulance after experiencing what one witness described as a “panic attack”. A spokesperson from the WA Country Health Service confirmed someone was taken to Geraldton Hospital but was released later that day. The fire was reported about 12.16pm on Saturday, taking 30 minutes to get under control and damaging seven cars and a shade sail. In a separate fire, police are investigating possible foul play after flames engulfed a nature strip near the BCF Geraldton store on Friday night. Emergency services were called to North West Coastal Highway about 7.23pm. A DFES spokesperson said the fire appeared to have been deliberately lit and the incident had been referred to WA Police. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.