CCTV footage released of suspected arsonist before Cobden house fire
A deliberate house fire in Cobden, south-west Victoria, has left a family shaken but unharmed. Police have released footage of a person of interest and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Police have released video footage of a person of interest after a deliberate house fire in Cobden, in south-west Victoria. A father and his two children were inside at the time but escaped without injury.
The fire broke out at the Mitchell Street property in Cobden just after 6am on February 5 this year. The father was still at home with his children, aged five and 16, before leaving for work when he heard a loud "whoosh" as flames forced their way inside the home.
The man tried to fight the fire while calling emergency services before firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze. All three escaped without injury.
Warrnambool Crime Investigation Unit Detective Andrew Raven said the fire could have had devastating consequences. "This was a deliberate and incredibly reckless act. A father and his two children were inside the home at the time, and we are extremely fortunate that all three were able to escape without injury," he said.
"The consequences could have been devastating, particularly given the children could have been asleep when the fire was lit."
Detectives have been investigating the incident for seven months and are now appealing for help to identify a man filmed on CCTV at the home. The footage shows a man at the front of the property using what police believe was an accelerant before the flames took hold.
He was wearing a blue jacket with the hood pulled up, black pants and runners. His face was covered.
Police have also released images of a silver Mazda 3 travelling toward Camperdown along Camperdown-Cobden Road about five minutes after the fire. The car had an external sunshade on its rear-left window and damage to the rear-left bumper.
Police believe the attack was targeted, but the reason for the fire remains unclear. Detective Sergeant Raven said they had followed several lines of inquiry but needed the community's help.
"We believe we are getting closer to identifying those responsible," he said. "Even something you think is insignificant could be the piece of information detectives need to resolve this investigation."
Anyone who witnessed the fire, recognises the man or car, or has dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers.