Man arrested after wind-fuelled blaze destroys Warners Bay home and vehicles

10 June 2025

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Vision from Media Response Newcastle

newy.com.au – A 47-year-old man is expected to face court today, accused of setting a destructive fire that tore through a Warners Bay home and destroyed two vehicles overnight, as firefighters battled challenging conditions to bring the blaze under control.

Emergency services were called to Margaret Street, near King Street, just after 11pm on Monday, 9 June, following reports of a house fire. When fire crews arrived, they found the two-storey home already well alight, with strong winds hampering efforts to contain the flames.

“We had eight fire trucks on scene, with around 40 firefighters working in difficult conditions due to the wind,” said Duty Commander James Downey of Fire and Rescue NSW’s D Platoon in Newcastle. “Crews were able to knock the fire down within about half an hour, but it took approximately 45 minutes to completely extinguish the blaze.”

Superintendent Adam Dewberry of Fire and Rescue NSW added that it took a further hour to ensure the fire was fully out, with significant damage caused to the house, an SUV, and a motorcycle. No injuries have been reported.

The site has now been handed over to police, and the cause of the fire is being treated as suspicious. Specialist fire investigation units are expected to return to the scene today to help determine where and how the blaze began.

Lake Macquarie Police District officers established a crime scene and, following inquiries, arrested a 47-year-old man at a service station on Lake Road, Argenton, at around 3.05am this morning.

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with causing property damage by fire or explosive, with the damage estimated to exceed $15,000, in connection with a domestic violence-related offence.

He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Belmont Local Court today, Tuesday, 10 June 2025.