'Sheer blind luck' decides whose home is destroyed

Paul Bosveld surveyed the smouldering ruin of his Perth Hills home and said he was "going to travel through life a bit lighter from now on".

The 62-year-old semi-retired builder and his wife, Nola, were among the unlucky ones who lost their homes when a bushfire ripped through the suburbs of Kelmscott and Roleystone.

Just up the road at 142 Clifton St, the Arnolds' house survived intact.

"It's fine, sheer blind luck I think," said Katrina Arnold, who credits a friend with saving the house by staying to wet it down.

Bosveld said he and his wife managed to save a chequebook, insurance papers and some photos from their home of 20 years.

"I was a bit of a hoarder ... now it's all burned up. I'm just going to travel a bit lighter through life from now on."

He said he and his wife would probably move on and sell the block "as a dream for someone else".

At least 68 homes were lost in the blaze, believed to have been started by sparks from an angle grinder.

Fire and Emergency Services Authority spokesman Allen Gale said last night the fire was within containment lines but there were still hot spots and a risk of it spreading again.

- AAP