A man has been taken into custody following the death of an elderly man after a house fire in Sydney’s inner west early Wednesday morning.
The fire broke out at a home on Irrara Street in Croydon around 4am, with emergency crews responding to a severe blaze. Once firefighters managed to extinguish the flames, they discovered the body of an 80-year-old man inside the property.
Later that afternoon, NSW Police released a photo of a 50-year-old man and issued a public appeal for help locating him. By approximately 7:40pm, the man was apprehended by officers from the Brisbane Water Police District in Woy Woy, located on the NSW Central Coast.
According to police, a machete was found hidden in the man’s pants during the arrest. Authorities confirmed that the man had been residing at the Croydon home.
While the exact cause of the fire is still unknown, investigators are treating it as suspicious.
Superintendent Christine McDonald, Commander of the Burwood Police Area, said an elderly woman is also assisting police with their investigation.
“We’re concerned about the 50-year-old man’s wellbeing,” she said. “He lived at the residence and is known to police.”
Authorities believe the deceased man, the woman assisting with inquiries, and the 50-year-old suspect are all related.
Superintendent McDonald noted that police do not believe the woman was in the house when emergency services were called. She is believed to have left the residence around 1am. McDonald also clarified that the incident is not considered gang-related or connected to any other recent fires.
“This is an isolated incident,” she said. “Any other connections or developments will become clearer over time.”
Describing the situation as a “heartbreaking tragedy,” McDonald said, “It’s devastating for anyone to die in such circumstances. For someone who lived a long life to pass away this way is particularly tragic.”
Fire and Rescue NSW deployed six fire trucks and 22 firefighters to battle the blaze. Structural damage, including a collapsed roof, complicated search and rescue efforts.
“The roof has collapsed, hiding hot spots and making the search more difficult,” FRNSW shared in a statement on X.
The house is located in a quiet residential street not far from the local train station, near Aden Park Reserve. A crime scene has been established, and Strike Force Leverier has been launched to investigate the fire and the events surrounding it.
