Details emerge after suspicious fires at Play to Learn centres in Castle Hill, Turramurra being investigated

Locals have revealed details of a suspicious fire that tore through a Sydney childcare centre – the second to target the operator within a matter of days.

Neighbours have described the moment a childcare centre in Sydney’s northwest was hitin a suspected arson attack overnight – the second similar incident for the operator in a matter of days.

Emergency crews were called to the Play to Learn centre in Castle Hill at about 1.30am on Monday, after reports of a fire.

The flames were quickly extinguished, causing minor damage to the building.

A childcare centre in Sydney’s northwest has gone up in flames overnight – the second attack on a childcare centre in a matter of days. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“Firefighters arrived to find the fire sprinkler system activated and signs of a fire that had been extinguished by the sprinkler system,” a Fire and Rescue spokesman told NewsWire.

The building was broken into, with accelerant found inside in an effort to start the fire, ABC reported.

Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore told reporters on Monday police believe more than one person was involved in the incident.

“Entry (was) forced at the rear of the premises,” she said.

“The fire was started in one of the rear rooms.”

SSuperintendent Naomi Moore alleged “more than one person” forced entry into the chilcare centre before setting it alight. Photo by Gaye Gerard / NewsWire

She said the building was relatively new and equipped with a good sprinkler system, which extinguished the fire fairly quickly.

No injuries have been reported.

Superintendent Moore said the arson attack was “very concerning”.

“It troubles us a lot,” she told reporters.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious, a police spokesman said.

Ravi, who lives across the road from the childcare centre and has two children, told NewsWire it was the “first time” an attack like this had occurred on the “safe” and “quiet” street.

He said the fire alarm began ringing in the early hours of the morning, adding he was “shocked” to see the incident occur.

“We’re just opposite the childcare centre, so it’s kind of scary for us, and we’re thinking now how to make it that we have enough security cameras in our house to … keep it safe,” he said.

He said they asked the fire crews to “check the system” as the fire alarm had sounded on previous occasions.

A neighbour said there was pushback against the childcare centre. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Police are investigating the fire. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Ravi said the centre, which has been open for a “few months”, received push back from the community prior to its opening.

The Castle Hill local said he was “part of” the group against the childcare centre, but said he “couldn’t do much” about it.

He said construction began in 2023, and said he’d seen “maybe seven to 10 kids” dropped off at the centre since Easter, though does not believe its enrolment was at “full capacity”.

“If it’s at full capacity, the street is fully blocked by cars,” he said. “I feel like they’re still coming up in terms of enrolments and stuff like that.”

He told NewsWire he was concerned about the centre’s security.

“We thought it would be safer (with the) childcare around, now it’s the other way around.

“We have to make sure the childcare is safe,” he said.

The fire is being treated as suspicious. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

It comes after a fire tore through another Play to Learn centre in Turramurra on Friday.

It also caused minor damage to the building and is being treated as suspicious.

Play to Learn has been operating on The Central Coast for nearly two decades, and opened the Turramurra centre less than a year when the incident occurred.

The fire caused minor damage to the building. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The childcare centre opened fairly recently, locals said Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

On Friday, the centre’s head of operations Jemma Quinlan said she had “absolutely no idea” why the business may have been targeted.

“It’s horrific – we’re here to serve the community, (and) we’re here for our families and our children,” she told Today.

“We’ve been operating for 19 years on The Central Coast. We have an amazing reputation up there.”

Head of operations Jemma Quinlan said she had “no idea” why the Turramurra centre may have been targeted. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Police have established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

They are yet to determine whether the two fires are linked.

Anyone with information in relation to the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Details emerge after suspicious fires at Play to Learn centres in Castle Hill, Turramurra being investigated