Dongara mourns death of artist Peter Cant after horrific house fire as police continue to investigate

The family of Dongara man and metal sculptor Peter Cant have been left to pick up the pieces after he tragically died in a house fire that engulfed his home, with police yet to pinpoint the cause of the blaze. Dozens of people surrounded the Vincent Street property, located in Dongara’s industrial area, on Tuesday evening as smoke and embers shot out of the home. Some rushed in to help their neighbour, while others frantically dialled triple-0. One man filling his water tanker nearby at the time rushed in with the hoses to spray the flames in an effort to stop the fire spreading throughout the property. Emergency services and police attended the ferocious blaze on Vincent Street in Dongara at 5.40pm, with crews from Dongara and Geraldton fire and rescue service bringing the fire under control by 6.40pm. Once the blaze was fully extinguished after 7pm, a man in his 50s was found dead inside the home. The home belonged to Mr Cant, a father and artist known for his metal work, who was understood to be inside when flames spread through the property. He died a day shy of his 57th birthday. Department of Fire and Emergency Services reported the fire had damaged 80 per cent of the house before it could be contained, while one neighbour who did not want to be named, watched as palm trees lining his fence caught fire. The fire is not being considered as suspicious. Peter McGowan, a scrap metal artist, has a property adjacent to Mr Cant’s. He said at least a dozen cars surrounded the property as people hastily contacted triple-0 for help. “The community rallied around really quick to try and help but the fire was blazing out of control,” he said. “There was just big black smoke and you could smell the plastic and everything. “Everybody was calling the fire brigade and they got there as quick as they could, but it was too late.” He said someone filling a water tanker nearby witnessed the fire and rushed over to spray water on the flames before emergency services arrived. The family of Mr Cant said he made some amazing artwork over the years, but most of it was displayed in his home, and most likely destroyed in the fire. One of Mr Cant’s astounding artworks hangs proudly at Southerlys Harbour View Bar and Restaurant — a metre-long metal shark located above the sports bar. It’s understood Mr Cant was unwell in recent years and had others living at the property to cater for him. Arson Squad detectives spent Wednesday morning conducting investigations while police taped off the area. Police are asking anyone with information relating to the fire to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www.crimestopperswa.com.au.