Federal Road was blanketed in thick smoke yesterday afternoon as a structural fire ripped through a home.

Neighbours and passing motorists looked on as a team of nine permanent and volunteer firefighters took 20 minutes to get the worst of the fire under control.

Kalgoorlie Fire Station officer Martin Cable said it was not yet known what had caused the blaze, which broke out about 1pm, but it was not being treated as suscpicious. Federal Road’s southbound lane was closed as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, with police called in to redirect traffic.