Ogmore Cct, Bankstown: Police take man into custody after ‘suspicious’ fire

A man has been taken into police custody in relation to a suspicious house fire in Sydney’s southwest, which erupted in flames with two teenagers were inside.

A man has been taken into custody following a suspicious fire to a two-storey townhouse in Bankstown, which erupted in flames with two teenagers inside.

Following the release of CCTV vision in a public appeal for information surrounding the blaze, Bankstown PAC commander Adam Johnson confirmed a man had been brought into the police station today and was expected to be charged with intentionally setting a fire.

Firefighters were called to Ogmore Cct, Bankstown about 1.45am last Friday, after a blaze erupted in the front of a garage.

Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, with two people – a 19-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy – able to escape the home without injury. The home, garage and two cars were damaged in the incident.

A crime scene was established by officers from the Bankstown Police Area Command and examined by specialist forensic police.

The fire at the Ogmore Cct townhouse last Friday. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

A still of CCTV vision released by police as part of an appeal into the suspicious fire.

The fire was found to be suspicious and Strike Force Portelli was launched to investigate the circumstances leading up the blaze.

Detectives released CCTV footage as part of an public appeal for assistance, showing a man walking with a “significant limp”, wearing a hooded jumper and long pants who police believe he may be able to assist with the investigation.

In an unrelated incident, the same street was the scene of a fatal house fire on July 16.

Seven fire trucks were called to a house in the early hours of the morning, arriving to flames and a large plume of smoke.

A body of a person was found in the room where the fire was believed to have started.