Police have returned to re-examine the scene of a fierce housefire that claimed the lives of a grandmother and two family pets last year.
Robyn Hough, 84, died in the Lake Munmorah home on the NSW central coast, that she shared with her grandson and two Staffy-cross dogs when a blaze ripped through just before 10.30am on September 8.
Detectives investigating the fire have made a public appeal for help as a team of officers and the State Crime Command's Arson Squad - codenamed Strike Force Metzler - work to piece together what happened.
Tuggerah Lakes Police District Commander, Superintendent Chad Gillies, addressed the media on Tuesday and confirmed for the first time the woman's identity.
"As we stand here today, I cannot rule out that that fire has been deliberately lit," he said.
"If we subsequently ascertain that the fire was deliberately lit, I would suspect that somebody out in the community might know something to further our investigation - either what's occurred or who was responsible."
Superintendent Gillies confirmed police had returned to the home on Clarence Street, on the Central Coast, on February 27 to comb it for further clues.
He said police were "re-excavating" the crime scene in an effort to "shed some light" on what happened.
"Robyn lived in the house with her grandson who also doubled as her primary carer," Superintendent Gillies said.
"Robyn had a number of health issues and suffered from a lack of mobility which may have contributed to her not being able to exit the house in time."
Superintendent Gillies was tight-lipped on details surrounding where the fire might have started in the home but confirmed police were looking into a number of lines of inquiry.
"We have no firm suspects at this point in time," he said.
Strike Force Metzler investigations continue.
Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have been in or around the Clarence Street area on the morning of September 8 last year, or who saw anything unusual or that caught their attention there about that time.
Anyone who has any other information about the fire should contact police.
Call detectives at Wyong Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The plea for information comes after emergency services found the home engulfed in flames after calls for help, and crews from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the Rural Fire Service managed to extinguish the fire.
The bodies of two dogs, believed to be Staffy-crosses, and 84-year-old Ms Hough, were found during a search of the home.
Police established a crime scene at the time and forensic officers and specialist fire investigators worked at the home into the afternoon, which included deploying a drone and a fire dog.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
