A bushfire that burnt about 500 hectares and damaged six homes in Perth this week may have been started by burning rubbish.
People in Banjup, Aubin Grove and Atwell in the City of Cockburn were forced to evacuate their homes on Monday as the blaze raged through bushland near the intersection of Nicholson and Armadale Roads.
The alert level has since been downgraded to an advice and residents have returned to their homes to assess the damage.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig White said investigations indicated the fire may have been caused by someone burning rubbish on a track running in a north/south direction between Nicholson and Taylor Roads.
"The area is being used as an unauthorised dumping ground, containing large amounts of rubbish including burnt tyres, oil and a large water tank," he said.
"The lighting of fires where proper precaution or authorisation has not been obtained is a criminal offence and can result in devastating consequences for the community."
Police want to speak to anyone who lives near the area and has any information about people or vehicles seen at the location.
Having played a role in the fire response as a volunteer firefighter, WA emergency services minister Joe Francis said anyone deliberately lighting fires could face strong penalties.
