CCTV footage shows shocking moment house set on fire

CCTV footage has revealed the shocking moment $24 million Northwood home was engulfed in flames in a brazen act of arson.

Emergency services were called the heritage listed home on Cliff Rd just before 11pm on Saturday, September 3 following reports of a house fire.

Around 50 firefighters battled throughout the night to extinguish the blaze but the mansion sustained significant fire damage.

There was no one in the lower north shore house at the time of the fire.

Upon closer examination, specialist forensic officers determined the house fire was deliberately lit.

The investigation was taken over by detectives from the financial crimes squad’s arson unit who have released CCTV footage of the moments surrounding the fire.

The footage shows a man who police believe may be able to assist investigations.

He is dressed in dark clothing and walks along Cliff Rd towards the targeted house.

The man can approaches the front door of the house. Moments later, the house is engulfed in a blaze of light.

The CCTV shows the house was quick to go up in flames and the blaze lit up the surrounding area.

As the house fire rages, the man runs away from the house.

Detective Inspector Richard Puffett said investigators had determined an accelerant had been used to ignite the house fire, although they were still working to determine the type.

The financial crimes squad’s arson unit co-ordinator said detectives were examining motives and persons of interest.

Police have been door knocking the neighbourhood since the devastating blaze, but they hope releasing the CCTV footage will lead to further information.

The multimillion-dollar estate was owned by TV presenter and travel industry giant Mary Rossi before it was sold in November last year for $24.1m.

The heritage-listed home was snapped up by the next-door neighbours, fund manager “Owen” Ouyang Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Li.

The pair had submitted a development application to knock down their original home to rebuild a four storey house with a swimming pool.

The plans were rejected by the Lane Cove Council, which took issue with the scale of the development and its impact on the heritage listed mansion next door. Mr Chen lodged a request for review of the council’s decision in July.

There is no suggestion the failed application had any involvement in the house fire.

Chen and Li were the largest property owners in the suburb when they purchased the $24.1m waterfront estate.

Their plans for charred remains of the six bedroom home are not known.

Inspector Richard Puffett said the mansion’s owners were co-operating with the ongoing arson investigation.

Anyone who may have any information about the fire or dashcam footage from vehicles driving along or parked on Cliff Rd on Saturday is urged to contact police.