A man has been charged with arson after a blaze destroyed three houses in Clontarf on Saturday afternoon.
It’s alleged the 36-year-old man used an accelerant to set fire to one house on Weaber Street at 1.50pm before fleeing.
By 3pm, 12 fire trucks were on the scene to contain the blaze, which Nine News reported spread to two neighbouring houses, destroying them too.
Police declared a public safety exclusion zone around the fire at 2.10pm, urging people to stay inside with the windows shut.
The area included Watson Street, Isobel and Enoch streets, Gerald Avenue, Wendy Crescent, Bright Avenue and Cornelius Street.
The emergency declaration was revoked at 4.19pm.
The man was later located by the police dog squad, and officers confirmed no one was injured in the alleged incident.
The Dakabin man has been charged with arson (domestic violence) and is due to appear in court on Monday, June 1.
With Alex Condon
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au), national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
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