Man dead, son arrested after ‘suspicious’ house fire in Croydon in Sydney’s inner west

The son of an elderly man killed in a house fire in Sydney’s inner west has been arrested on the Central Coast, where police allegedly discovered a machete in his pants.

The fire took hold at a home on Irrara St in Croydon. Picture: Supplied

The son of an elderly man killed in a house fire in Sydney’s inner west has been arrested on the Central Coast, where police allegedly discovered a machete in his pants.

Police took Christopher Grantham, 50, into custody at Woy Woy about 7.40pm on Wednesday, almost 16 hours after the Croydon blaze that killed his 80-year-old father Ted Grantham.

Ted, who played the organ at his local church, perished in the 4am fire on Irrara St, where he lived with his elderly wife and son.

Christopher Grantham has been arrested. Picture: NSW Police

NSW Police Superintendent Christine McDonald said Ted’s wife Anne had left the home about three hours before the fire and was assisting officers with inquiries at a police station. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by her.

But police spent several hours “extensively looking” for Christopher, who was believed to have been travelling on public transport through areas including the inner west, Circular Quay and Watsons Bay.

“We believe (he) may be able to assist police with inquiries,” Supt McDonald said late on Wednesday morning, telling reporters Christopher, who also lived at the Croydon home, had last been seen in the Leichhardt area.

He was arrested on Wednesday night and taken to Gosford Police Station, with detectives from Burwood en route to speak with him. No charges have been laid.

Ted Grantham (left) was found dead after a fire ripped through a home on Irrara St in Croydon just before 4am on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

Supt McDonald paid tribute to the officers involved in locating him.

“This has been an intensive few hours to locate a man we believe can assist with our inquiries into what we allege is a suspicious fire, and I thank my officers and all other officers who provided their assistance,” she said in a statement on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, Supt McDonald said police were still investigating what had led Anne to leave the home at 1am, about three hours before six fire trucks and 22 Fire and Rescue NSW personnel responded to the blaze which caused extensive damage to the Granthams’ home.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

A person has died after house fire in Sydney’s inner west overnight. Picture: Supplied

NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said firefighters had entered the home through the rear, with flames concentrated at the front of the building.

“They were actually forced back due to the intensity of the fire and the roof was starting to collapse,” Supt Dewberry said.

“They had to withdraw to a safer position. Then they entered again once the fire was knocked down.”

The home was gutted by fire. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Supt Dewberry said after a period of battling the blaze, “unfortunately, we have located the body of a person inside the ruins of this fire”.

One neighbour, who wished not to be named, said the street was “normally quiet” and while she noticed lights about 4am, she “didn’t think much of it, because there was no noise”.

Police and fire investigators at the scene. Picture: NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Police and fire crews remained at the scene into the afternoon, with detectives cordoning off the street as investigations under Strike Force Leverier continued with officers examining the crime scene.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Fire crews at the scene.

CROYDON - 4:06 - Two people unaccounted for at a house fire on Irrarra St. Six fire trucks with 22 firefighters have contained the fire. Roof has collapsed concealing hot spots and making search difficult. pic.twitter.com/fhahBTxhoc

— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) May 27, 2025

The roof of the house caved in.

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Originally published as Man dead, son arrested after ‘suspicious’ house fire in Croydon in Sydney’s inner west