Western Australia police save woman and kids after man allegedly sets fire to home

The shocking moment a man allegedly set fire to a family home while his partner and three young children were still inside has been caught on camera.

Police rushed to a property in Albany, a regional city about 250 miles south of Perthafter reports that a man threatened his partner.

Body camera footage shows an officer kicking in the front door of the Spencer Park home, where the 30-year-old man was standing in the living room.

Officers were heard shouting at him before he allegedly pulled a lighter from his pocket and ignited fuel he poured throughout the house.

Flames engulfed the house as the people inside screamed in fear.

A police body-worn camera captured the moment a 30-year-old man allegedly set fire to a house while a woman and three young children were inside

A ball of flames shot through the entire house as police rushed in to rescue those trapped by the fire

Officers briefly took cover, but then braved the flames and toxic smoke to rescue the woman and three young children.

An officer shouted “where are the kids” as police extinguished the flames in the house.

Western Australia Police Officer Warren Taylor found a young girl covered up in one of the rooms and led her to safety.

Officer Taylor said he acted on instinct and wasn’t thinking about the danger when he ran into the house looking for the child.

‘I just did it. There was no thinking involved,” he said.

“Honestly, you don’t think about being afraid. You just hear there’s a child in there, and you’re gone.’

Officers worked quickly to get the woman and children out of the home and contained the fire until fire and emergency services arrived.

Mr Taylor added that those involved had been lucky as none of the officers present had been injured and the entire family had been able to escape the house safely.

‘There was petrol everywhere, big flames. “Everyone was lucky to get out,” he said.

The man was arrested and taken into custody and charged with attempted murder and using corrosive liquid or a destructive or explosive substance with intent to cause serious bodily harm or avoid arrest.

Police will also allege the man threw petrol on his partner, covering her clothing.

Western Australia Police Assistant Officer Warren Taylor rescued a little girl from home and said he acted on instinct when he rushed into danger

The man was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder and using a corrosive liquid or explosive substance to cause harm or avoid arrest.

The man will appear at Stirling Gardens Magistrate Court on July 24.

Senior Sergeant Carlos Correia said the footage showed the dangerous domestic violence situations officers face every day.

“It just shows how precarious it is to go to these types of jobs,” said Sergeant General Correia.

“You don’t know what’s going on and (officers) go in there (with) little regard for their personal safety.”

The footage was released in conjunction with the WA Police Recognition of Excellence Awards, where the Albany Police Department was nominated for operational performance.