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Boy, 5, rescued from burning house

Matt Dartnall witnessed the fire at his neighbour's house. Picture: Nic Ellis/The West Australian.

A woman and her five-year-old grandson have survived a house fire in Forrestfield last night

A neighbour has described the panicked scenes as a wall of flames rose metres above the roof of the Burtonia Way home.

Firefighters were called to the property about 11.25pm, arriving to find the front of the house on fire.

Crews from Welshpool and Belmont managed to rescue the occupants then extinguish the blaze by midnight.

Matt Dartnall, 39, who lives next door, said the grandmother, Mary, was looking after her grandson, Ashton, during the school holidays.

He frantically tried to find the five-year-old in the moments before firefighters arrived.

"I ran out and saw a big wall of flame coming out the top of the house," he said.

"I called out Mary’s name and finally she responded.

"I’ve gone over there to have a look for her. I couldn’t see her but she said, ’Ashton’s in the granny flat, Ashton’s in the granny flat.’

"I jumped the fence and had a look and called out his name repeatedly. He didn’t answer.

"I just wish I had my torch because I couldn’t see anything."

Mr Dartnall said he saw the firefighters carry the boy out of the house.

St John Ambulance paramedics took Mary to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

Ashton stayed with Mr Dartnall, who said the boy was in remarkably good spirits despite the drama.

"He comes over and plays with our kids. We took him in after the fire until his other grandma arrived to pick him up," he said.

"(Mary) was all black around the face. She was speaking a bit funny and her eyes were all glazed red.

"Ashton was fine, though. All he wanted to do was go inside and play the playstation at my place."

A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said the blaze caused about $250,000 damage.

Police are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.