CCTV shows moment Auburn tobacconist caught alight

Police are hunting a suspect they believe deliberately set a western Sydney tobacco shop alight, forcing the evacuation of 150 people from a unit block.

Police have released CCTV of a western Sydney tobacco shop fire they allege was deliberately lit, with the blaze forcing 150 apartment block residents to evacuate in the early hours of Saturday morning.

About 4am emergency services rushed to Mary St, Auburn to find the shopfront well alight.
Firefighters and police evacuated residents from the apartment building above the shop as a precaution, and no injuries were reported but the shopfront was badly damaged.

CCTV released by investigators on Saturday afternoon showed flames at the entrance of the business, before the footage captured a black Nissan parked nearby driving away.

Auburn Police Commander Superintendent Rob Toynton said police were seeking public assistance for “anything suspicious they might have seen” around the time of the fire.

Supt Toynton said the investigation was in its infancy, however, police were following several lines lines of inquiry.

He added that the vehicle used by the person of interest, a black Nissan compact SUV, was confirmed to be stolen two days prior.

Police are investigating a suspicious fire at the Sumer Shisha tobacconist on Mary St in Auburn.

Police have yet to find the vehicle.

FRNSW Acting Superintendent Belinda Hooker said about 150 residents had been evacuated from a 10-floor apartment building.

Police say no injuries were reported with officers establishing a crime scene and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident were underway.

Detectives and forensics remained at the scene well into Saturday afternoon.