Woman allegedly set on fire in Mount Helena, Perth as husband is taken into police custody

A mother-of-three ran desperately towards a creek after she was allegedly set on fire in a car in a suspected domestic violence incident.

Police say the 33-year-old-woman was heard by neighbours screaming after she became engulfed in flames on Friday night near the corner of Honey Street and Mill End in Mount Helena, in Perth’s east.

She suffered burns to 40 per cent of her body including her face, arms and torso and had tried to run towards a nearby creek before she was doused in water by neighbours and first responders.

She was airlifted to hospital and remains in a serious but stable condition.

Her husband, 42, suffered minor burns and was also taken to hospital but has since been released and is now in police custody assisting with inquiries.

The mother suffered severe burns when the car was allegedly set alight on Friday night 

Police haven’t been able to speak to the woman yet given her injuries, and it’s believed she had recently split with her husband.

WA Police Inspector Glen Beros said the woman had suffered ‘life-changing injuries’.

‘The investigation is still in its infancy and as with all family violence investigations, they are complex and we want to be very thorough to work through this, so we are trying to gather as much information as we can,’ he told reporters.

‘They were in a family relationship and there has been violence, so yes, we are considering family violence.

‘There is no suggestion that anyone else was involved, however, as part of these investigations we will be looking at any incidents that may have contributed in the lead up to this, any other incidents involving family violence that may have occurred.’

He added the situation was distressing for everyone involved.

‘A young woman has got significant burns to her body, which is going to take a long time to treat and then the rest of her life she will be impacted by that,’ he said.

‘The community members that were on the scene immediately, they’re going to be affected by what they saw, as will the family of this young lady and the extended families outside of that.’ 

Police are seen at the scene in Mount Helena, Perth. The woman’s husband is in police custody 

The couple’s three young children are being cared for by their grandparents.

One neighbour said he heard a woman scream in ‘great distress’.

‘It was that sort of scream where someone is beside themselves,’ he told the West Australian.

‘We knew something terrible had happened.’

Ten fire trucks had arrived at the scene within five minutes of the first triple zero call, and it took crews around 30 minutes to extinguish the fire. 

Investigations are continuing into the incident and police have taken the car away for inspection.

Detectives are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.