Man tries to light smoke with gas bottle, starts fire

A FIRE that gutted a Doubleview unit started after a man tried lighting his cigarette using a gas bottle.

Firefighters were called to the Ravenscar Street property after a fire was reported at 3.45am on Thursday morning.

When crews arrived they found the 39-year-old man trying to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.

The was treated for severe smoke inhalation at Fiona Stanley Hospital but discharged himself later that morning.

He returned to the scene where Scarborough Police Senior Sergeant Craig Wanstall said he told officers he had been “playing” with a 4.5kg gas bottle in his father’s lounge room and then ignited a cigarette.

Arson Squad detectives found a gas bottle in the centre of the room and did not find evidence to dispute his version of events.

The cause of the fire has been labelled undetermined, pending further information and forensic investigations.

It resulted in the complete destruction of the unit and its contents, with damage estimated at $500,000.