By Josefine Ganko and Cindy Yin
A 50-year-old man has been arrested and is expected to be charged after his elderly father died in a suspicious house fire in Sydney’s inner west.
Edward “Ted” Grantham, a retired pastor and music teacher, was found dead inside his Croydon home after the blaze erupted about 4am on Wednesday. The 80-year-old lived in the Irrara Street property with his wife Anne and their 50-year-old son Christopher.
Police spent the day looking for Christopher, who was last seen in Leichhardt about 6.30am, saying they held concerns for his welfare and that he may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The 50-year-old was found at about 7.40pm on Wednesday at Woy Woy on the Central Coast, about 85 kilometres away from his home.
Ted Grantham, pictured with his wife Anne, who was not in the house at the time of the blaze.Credit: Facebook
He was taken to Gosford police station, with Burwood detectives travelling there on Wednesday night to speak to him before he was expected to be charged.
Police have released an image of the man they are looking for. Credit: NSW Police
In a statement, Superintendent Christine McDonald said: “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.”
Anne Grantham was not in the house at the time of the blaze, having left at 1am on Wednesday morning, and was assisting police with their inquiries.
Ted Grantham retired from a long career as a music teacher, mostly spent teaching at De La Salle College Ashfield, and a pastor in 2011, later taking up the role of organist at Annandale’s Hunter Baillie church.
The church’s moderator, the Reverend Danny Ford, told the Herald Ted was a “much-loved and valued member of the church and wider community”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and us all as we grieve at this difficult time.”
According to the church’s website, the Granthams had six children and 18 grandchildren. Ted had a lifelong passion for music; he composed two operas and held various degrees in music and theology. His wife Anne is also a retired teacher.
Edward “Ted” Grantham playing the organ at Annandale’s Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church.Credit: Hunter Baillie Church
Fire crews were called to the Croydon property just after 4am and found the house ablaze, with flames shooting through the roof.
Firefighters escalated the incident to a full emergency response, and six trucks from across the inner west and south-west arrived.
A crime scene was established on the quiet residential street, with the police forensics team later examining the site as officers door-knocked neighbours and spoke to possible witnesses.
NSW Police’s forensics team on the scene.Credit: Kate Geraghty
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the blaze spread quickly and crews were only able to enter the single-storey house from the rear. After firefighters conducted an initial search, the roof started to collapse, fanning the fire further and forcing crews to withdraw.
When the search resumed, Ted Grantham’s body was found inside the house.
NSW Fire and Rescue crews initially searched through the rubble for a second resident of the house, but later confirmed that there was only one casualty.
Aerials show the collapsed roof of a Croydon house after fire tore through the property. Credit: Nine News
Dewberry said the search of the house had been made difficult by the collapsed roof, which made it unsafe for firefighters. The initial blaze took about 40 minutes to contain, while fire crews spent another hour and a half suppressing hotspots.
NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW are working to determine the cause of the blaze, with McDonald confirming one line of inquiry is examining whether an accelerant was used.
Dewberry urged everyone to have smoke alarms fitted in their homes.
“As we’re coming into winter, we see more house fires. I’m always reminding people to make sure you have working smoke alarms fitted in your home, and if you need help fitting one, contact your local fire station,” he said.
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