Man charged over multiple bushfires at Kings Park in Perth

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A homeless man has been charged with five counts of arson after allegedly lighting a series of bushfires in Perth’s inner suburbs.

Police arrested the 41-year-old of no fixed address at the scene of the latest blaze in Kings Park late on Thursday.

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That fire came dangerously close to apartment buildings that overlook the Swan River and city centre before fire crews contained it.

“The fire spread rapidly towards multimillion-dollar homes adjacent to Jacob’s Ladder and predominantly due to that wind direction which was blowing the fire directly there,” WA Police Inspector Geoff DeSanges said.

“It’s through the very quick action and outstanding work by DFES that we’re able to prevent any significant damage to any property.”

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The man is accused of setting fire to vegetation on a steep embankment that skirts the large park on Mount Eliza.

He was arrested by police opposite Jacob’s Ladder near Mounts Bay Rd just before 6pm.

Investigators say the man is also responsible for three other fires in the park on October 24, along with a blaze in grassland near a nursing home in the affluent suburb of Nedlands on the same day.

Those fires in the park also threatened homes and rained ash on nearby homes before two dozen fire crews brought it under control.

A man has been charged over fires at Kings Park. Credit: 7NEWS

Kings Park is one of the world’s largest inner city parks and is about 400ha in size and 10km around.

The man was charged with five counts of wilfully lighting or causing to be lit a fire likely to injure or damage.

He is scheduled to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.