Police investigating ‘suspicious’ house fire in Merrylands, Holden set on fire after ‘fleeing scene’

Neighbours have described a “massive fire” in Sydney’s west, where one resident jumped out a share house window to escape the inferno. Police are treating the blaze as “suspicious”.

A man has been injured after he was forced to leap from a window to escape a “suspicious” early morning blaze that gutted a western Sydney share house.

Emergency services were called to Dan St in Merrylands about 12.40am on Tuesday, following multiple reports a two-storey home was on fire.

Four men — aged 23, 26, 52 and 55 — managed to escape the inferno, with the youngest taken to Westmead Hospital with leg injuries after jumping from the first floor window of the home.

Police are investigating a "suspicious" blaze that left a two-storey house in Merrylands completely gutted. Picture: Amaani Siddeek

Neighbours were also evacuated as the fire grew, engulfing the house.

Among them were next door neighbours Jay Qasimi, 29, and his family, including his brother’s newborn baby and one-year-old child.

Mr Qasimi said he and his family were preparing to go to bed when a “loud bang” alerted them to the chaos.

“As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard a loud bang,” Mr Qasimi said.

“I came down stairs and I saw this massive fire. It got quite close (to us) and even now you can see from (our) fence that (their house) is all burnt down that side.”

“We all had to evacuate and we weren’t allowed back inside the house. The kids were very scared.”

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokeswoman said six crews attended the scene and worked to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed the house and left it uninhabitable.

Firefighters managed to get the blaze under control about 1.30am.

“The house was significantly destroyed by fire,” she said.

“However, firefighters were able to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring properties with houses either side not suffering any damage and residents able to return.”

Police, who have since established a crime scene at the Dant St house, are now appealing to the public for information.

Superintendent Michael Bright said initial investigations had identified a stolen Holden Commodore fleeing the scene of the fire shortly after the blaze erupted.

A Merrylands house has been gutted by a ‘suspicious’ fire. Picture: Amaani Siddeek

Firefighters put out a secondary blaze within the charred remains of the Merrylands home. Picture: Amaani Siddeek

“There were some males seen running, and they all seem to get into this Commodore, which has then left the location,” Superintendent Bright said.

“We’re appealing for anybody that may have been in the Dan St, Burnett St area between 12am and 12.40am this morning (to) contact Crime Stoppers or the Granville Police Station.”

Supt Bright said the stolen Commodore was later located on Proctor Way, Claymore.

The car had been set on fire.

“We don’t believe this was a targeted attack on (the four men),” Supt Bright added.

“(Fire and Rescue NSW) have indicated that an accelerant was used.”

Officers attached to Cumberland Police Area Command have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fire, which is being treated as suspicious.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam or mobile footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.