An elderly man has died in a ‘suspicious’ house fire as police search for another resident who remains unaccounted for.
Emergency services were called to a home on Irrara Street in Croydon, in Sydney’s Inner West, at about 4am on Wednesday.
Six fire trucks and 22 Fire and Rescue NSW crews attended the blaze, which tore through the red-brick house.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control, but discovered one person dead inside the house. The death is being treated as suspicious.
The deceased man, 80, has not yet been formally identified.
Police are now appealing for information on another man, believed to have resided at the home.
He has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 50s, of large build, about 190cm tall, and having short brown hair.
‘Police believe the man may be utilising public transport and may be travelling through the Inner West, Circular Quay, Watsons Bay, and surrounding areas,’ a NSW Police spokesman said.
A house fire Sydney’s inner west has claimed the life of one person, with another still unaccounted for this morning
Firefighters worked through the morning to contain the fire, locating the body in their efforts
Firefighters struggled to enter the building due to the intensity of the blaze.
As crews worked to contain the fire, parts of the roof collapsed, concealing hotspots and making the search effort more difficult.
Fire Rescue NSW superintendent Adam Dewberry said crews forced entry through the back of the property.
Due to the intense heat and falling debris, firefighters were forced to temporarily withdraw until it was safe to re-enter.
Police from the local Burwood Area Command have since established a crime scene.
The scene will be forensically examined and Strike Force Leverier have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Traffic diversions were in place early Wednesday morning, but the area had since reopened.
