Doubleview fire: Woman rushed to hospital after blaze tore through single-storey unit

A woman has been hospitalised after a fire tore through a unit in Perth’s north on Saturday morning.

According to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the blaze was reported in Doubleview about 11.10am.

The fire took hold in a single-storey unit in an apartment building and was contained to the home.

St John WA paramedics attended the scene and rushed one woman aged in her 80s to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

The fire was extinguished about 12.30pm thanks to the seven DFES appliances on scene but caused extensive damage to the home.

Neighbours living next door said they weren’t aware the unit was burning until firefighters knocked on the door and told them to leave.

They said the back window was completely blackened by soot.

Neighbour Bob MacKenzie, who has lived in the street for 32 years, said he often saw the woman walking to the shop using a walking-frame.

“You know, you never expect something like that to happen in your own neighbourhood,” Mr MacKenzie said.

“And guess what it does. I feel sorry for her. She lives on her own, a nice old lady.

“Knowing that it’s an elderly lady, I would say she should be maybe getting more care than what she was getting.”

Mr MacKenzie said he saw neighbours running back and forth trying to put the fire out using garden hoses.

“One guy was running back and forward, obviously he couldn’t get in,” he said.

“The neighbours and friends that live around here, we all say we live in the best village in Perth, Doubleview Village.

“And that’s the kind of thing that Doubleview people do for each other, they try and help each other”.

The cause of the fire is not suspicious and Arson Squad officers will prepare a report.