Police are appealing for information from the public following a suspicious fire near Newcastle last week.
Just after midnight (Friday 23 January 2026), emergency services were called to a business on Albert Street, Wickham, after reports of smoke coming from the building.
Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found a fire burning on the ground floor before extinguishing the blaze. Smoke and water damage was occasioned to the ground floor.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and established a crime scene, which was forensically examined.
Newcastle detectives have commenced inquiries into the incident under Strike Force Halesworth, which is being treated as suspicious and thought related to another similar incident on the night of Tuesday 20 Janaury 2026.
As inquiries continue, police have released CCTV footage of two men, and a small, light-coloured vehicle seen in the area about the time of fire. Police are appealing to members of the public if they saw anyone acting suspiciously last Friday night, or have dashcam footage, to contact police.
The first male is described as medium height and build, wearing long pants, a hooded jumper and joggers.
The second male is described as medium to thin build, wearing long pants, hooded jumper, socks and slides.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
