A fire has damaged at least eight properties in Perth’s north-east, with the cause of the blaze now being investigated by the WA Police arson squad. Residents in Ellenbrook were forced to flee on Thursday afternoon or to stay to defend their homes, some using garden hoses to douse the flames. A bushfire came close to homes in Ellenbrook on Thursday. Night NewsThe flames tore through bushland and reached the fence line of homes before firefighters got the fire under control. Keep up to date on the latest via the Emergency WA website.