Accelerant found in ‘suspicious’ $24m Northwood fire ruins
Investigators of a ‘suspicious’ blaze which destroyed a $24 million waterfront property have discovered fire accelerant within the Northwood home’s charred remains.
NSW
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A FIRE accelerant has been detected among the charred remains of a $24 million dollar waterfront home which burnt down in suspicious circumstances.
Specially trained Fire and Rescue NSW sniffer dogs picked up the scent on Monday which has now become a crucial part of the police investigation.
The fire was already being treated as suspicious after a mystery person was captured on CCTV running from the vicinity of the Cliff Rd property moments before it went up in flames on Saturday night.
Devastated owner Ouyang Chen was seen inspecting what was left of his prized heritage house on Tuesday, but waved his hand and did not want to talk about the fire.
He placed a red bag with some belongings in the back of a Toyota dual cab, then drove off.
There is no suggestion Mr Chen had anything to do with the fire.
A NSW Fire and Rescue source told The Daily Telegraph an accelerant had been detected at the Cliff Rd property, but it was not clear what the ignitable liquid was.
Detectives from the NSW Police arson squad continued canvassing the street looking for witnesses or CCTV.
Neighbours said Mr Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Le had not moved in to the house they bought from the Rossi family late last year for $24.1 million, nor did they live at the one they own directly next door, which they purchased in 2007 for $5.6 million.
The Chen’s have been living around the corner on Northwood Rd in a third house they own in the suburb, while they await the outcome of a Development Application submitted to Lane Cove Council to demolish the smaller house they own on Cliff Rd.
Council knocked back the first DA because of the ‘negative impacts’ it would have on the heritage listed property next door.
The Chen’s submitted a modified proposal in July which is still being considered.
Mystery person seen running from ‘suspicious’ fire
It comes as a mystery person captured on CCTV running from the vicinity of a $24m waterfront property moments before it went up in flames could hold the key to what happened to the home.
The NSW Police arson squad has taken charge of investigating how the fire started at the heritage-listed mansion in Northwood while no one was home.
Specialist accelerant detection sniffer dogs were led through the charred remains of the Cliff Rd property yesterday, while the homeowner Ouyang Chen watched on.
Mr Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Le bought the property from the family of the late travel industry “queen” Mary Rossi in December last year, and also own the house next door, where they live.
Police said they were treating the fire as suspicious and were reviewing CCTV of a mystery person seen in the vicinity of the home shortly before the blaze took hold.
Firefighters were called to the home on Cliff Rd, in the city’s northern suburbs, just before midnight on Saturday.
Close to 50 firefighters battled the blaze for more than two hours, before finally bringing it under control.
It is understood no residents were in the property at the time and no one was injured.
The home, which has waterfront views, was only purchased last year and the owner returned to the property on Monday.
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the flames were so high — almost 20m — they were venting up into the air.
“We had to use the ladder truck to get up over the top of it,” he said.
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze before any damage to neighbouring properties occurred.
Investigators were on the scene from Sunday morning looking for any flammable liquids.
The mansion was totally destroyed in the blaze.
Locals said it would be a “tragedy” if the fire was the work of an arsonist. “It would be an awful shame,” one woman said.
Ruby Rigney, who lives opposite the house said the blaze had been incredibly scary.
“It was pretty messed up,” she said.
“There were so many fire trucks. We were all really nervous the fire would spread.”
For neighbour Anneke Senden, the fire was a tragedy.
“It’s very sad. That place was an institution,” she said.
“Another federation home lost.”
Three months before buying the historic home, Mr Chen put in a development application for a $5m demolition of his house next door to construct a new home and swimming pool.
Lane Cove Council rejected the development as it “would have an unacceptable impact” on the heritage house.
It is not suggested that Mr Chen had anything to do with the fire.
Until 2021 the waterfront property had belonged to the late Mary Rossi, one of the first women to host a television show on Australian TV. The host of 1950s ABC show Women’s World bought the mansion with husband Theo Rossi in 1961.
It was in the Northwood home Ms Rossi raised her ten children. Later the house saw multiple weddings and birthdays of many of her 34 grandchildren and forty plus great-grandchildren.
Ms Rossi’s daughters Alexandra Rossi Tiffin and Emma Rossi watched the fire from across the street as it tore through a place that held many happy memories.
“I sobbed a lot,” said Ms Rossi Tiffin. “My sister and I hugged.”
While the wooden banisters from the heritage 1915 house turned to ash, Ms Rossi Tiffin only thought of the memories.
“We had an idyllic childhood, so unique. Having so many siblings and family members around you. It was a wonderful place.”
“The house is just a structure but it’s the intangible memories that are in our mind forever,” she said.
“It was a house filled with love.”
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