Police make three men in connection with May Parramatta Public School fire

POLICE are searching for one more arsonist in connection to the heritage building school fire in western Sydney after arresting three men this week. A fourth man is still on the run.

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POLICE made three arrests on Tuesday in connection to the Parramatta Public School fire, and are searching for a fourth.

The three men, two aged 19 and one aged 20, from Granville and Greystanes, were arrested after an extensive investigation of the blaze which ripped through the 105-year-old building in May this year.

Detective Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett said the police are looking for a fourth man who is currently on the run.

“We believe we know who the man, and he has fled the jurisdiction,” Detective Superintendent Puffett said.

“We’re keen to catch up with him.”

The men are not believed to have brought any accelerant with them for the fire. Picture: NSW Police

Police are searching for their friend who is also allegedly involved in the arson. Picture: NSW Police

A $25,000 reward was being offered for information into the four men involved in the fire, which Detective Puffett said has not yet been awarded.

“That’s something that takes a bit of time to go through and process,” he said.

Firefighters were called to the two-storey heritage building on Macquarie St in Parramatta about 4.40am on Saturday, May 19.

“We don’t think it was an act that had a lot of preparation. We think it was an act that was more spontaneous and stupid,” Detective Puffett said.

The fire has destroyed major structural elements of the building which may have to be demolished. Picture: Kernin Lambert.

“It’s extensive damage to that school, but it’s going to take a long time to repair that premises.

“It’s a significant fire, and it’s something we pride ourselves on at the arson unit that such perpetrators are brought to justice. In terms of destroying a part of history really, it could have been quite dangerous too. In terms of emergency responders and other people that could have been in the vicinity at the time,” he said.

There were 75 firefighters and 19 trucks were on the scene at the early morning blaze. Picture: Kernin Lambert

About 300 people were evacuated from a nearby apartment building but there were no injuries, a spokesman for Fire and Rescue NSW said.

About 75 firefighters and 19 trucks were deployed and it took 12 hours for the last lingering flame to be put out.

The $250 million development was put on hold while police investigated the fire.

Earlier this year three 17-year-old girls sought by police over the fire volunteered themselves at the Gosford Police Station on the Central Coast, after police released CCTV footage of them.

The estimated costs to repair the building is more than $10 million.