Police have charged a 19-year-old man with starting a bushfire in the Perth Hills, threatening lives and homes overnight. No properties have been destroyed, but there were some close calls and frantic moments early New Year's Day.
00:00As the clock ticked into 2026, the sky lit up in the Perth Hills, not from fireworks,
00:11but flames.
00:12It was dark and you couldn't see anything.
00:15The lights were out, fire all around, I couldn't believe everything was on fire, everything.
00:20Dick Mazursky's wife woke him up, they knew they had to get out.
00:24The only thing we could do is get two dogs, one dog wouldn't come.
00:29He was scared so we finally had to say we had to go.
00:33With power cut off he had to drive through his electric gate, the flames coming perilously close to his property.
00:40The only thing that matters to me now is my dog.
00:43I just hope he didn't suffer if he died through it.
00:47Yeah, and I hope he didn't.
00:50The neighbourhood waiting anxiously to return to their homes.
00:54You need a hand, good to see you.
00:56There was a lot of smoke and there was a lot of ash and embers blowing around so there was real concern for properties on our side of the road.
01:04The blaze was allegedly started by a New Year's firecracker thrown into bushland by 19-year-old Luke Gregurich.
01:11His lawyer has told the magistrate's court he made concerted efforts to extinguish the blaze, but it quickly got out of control.
01:19We understand people do want to celebrate, but it's really important that we're mindful this is the fire season and it doesn't take much for a little fire to turn into a big fire.
01:29Firefighters on the front line gained the upper hand by mid-morning.
01:33Authorities say no homes have been destroyed, but sheds, water and power infrastructure were scorched.
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