Police believe an arson attack was behind the blaze that destroyed the beachside home of popular Australian Youtuber FriendlyJordies – the second attack on the property in a week.
Emergency services arrived at the property in Wilga Street in Bondi, in Sydney’s east, at 12.30am on Wednesday to find the home engulfed in flames.
Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as FriendlyJordies on his popular but divisive political commentary YouTube channel, lives at the back of the property but was not at home at the time of the fire.
A smaller fire broke out at the Bondi home on November 16 but was put out before it could cause any any significant damage.
Firefighters fought desperately to contain the blaze on Wednesday morning but the home suffered significant damage.
Firefighters were called to Wilga Street in Bondi at about 12.30am on Wednesday, where they found the home of Youtuber FriendlyJordies engulfed in flames (pictured)
Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as FriendlyJordies on his popular political commentary YouTube channel, lives at the back of the impacted property
Two elderly residents escaped the front of the burning property, while another three neighbours evacuated their home next door.
Emergency services confirmed no one was injured during the fire.
Video from the scene showed the home completely gutted by fire with rooms reduced to ash.
The closed-off street was filled with emergency service vehicles including police, ambulance, fire and rescue vehicles.
Concerned residents lined the street and watched as as firefighters tackled the immense blaze.
Firefighters were seen hosing each other down – a cooling technique used to reduce the core temperatures – once the fire was extinguished.
NSW Police said they were treating the blaze as ‘suspicious’ and are investigating whether Wednesday’s fire and the November 16 fire are linked.
‘Police have established a crime scene and the fire area will be subject of an examination by specialist officers,’ NSW Police said.
NSW Police are treating the fire as ‘suspicious’ and are investigating whether it is linked to a suspected arson attack at the same property
Firefighters used a ladder to examine the fire from above (left) while two hoses were used to extinguish the blaze (right))
NSW Fire and Rescue Adam Dewberry said specialist forensic police and dogs ‘trained in the use of detecting accelerants’ were at the home combing through the rubble and investigating the fire’s cause.
‘The cause and origin of the fire [are] actually being investigated today by specialists who will also make sure the fire hasn’t caused structural damage elsewhere in the home,’ Mr Dewberry said.
Fire investigators in full personal protective equipment were seen at the home with a police Labrador.
Neighbour Astrid Rickard said she woke to the sound of the fire but initially thought it was fireworks for the World Cup.
Australia played France in its first game on Wednesday morning with the match kicking off at 6am AEDT.
‘We woke up and I actually thought it was fireworks for the World Cup, but I looked out the living room [window] and basically next door was on fire,’ Ms Rickard said.
‘We quickly got out of the house and grabbed the dog. Lots of people were already out on the street… it was pretty full-on.’
Ms Rickard said the fire ‘took off pretty quick’ because her neighbour’s house was a beautiful old 1930s home built with a lot of wood.
The sprawling beachside home and a neighbouring property were significantly damaged by the fire.
The sprawling beachside home, described as a ‘beautiful 1930s old home with lots of wood’ was significantly damaged by the fire (pictured). A neighbouring property was also damaged
Neighbour Astrid Rickard initially thought the fire was fireworks for the World Cup but grabbed her dog and evacuated her home when she realised the house next door was engulfed in flames (pictured, left: Ms Rickard with her dog)
Ms Rickard said she was immediately worried the fire was linked to FriendlyJordies.
‘FriendlyJordies lives at the back, so we kind of have a feeling it has something to do with that,’ Ms Rickard said.
‘This is the second attack in one week, so it is a bit concerning being right next door.
‘Someone has obviously got it out for someone cause this not a normal house fire, this does not just happen, someone’s thrown something in that veranda and got that house on fire.’
Police have urged anyone with information related to the two fires to contact Eastern Suburbs Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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