A man will face court after he allegedly deliberately lit two fires at an animal shelter, where multiple cats were killed, in Sydney’s north west yesterday.
About 5.30am (Monday 2 November 2026), emergency services were called to an animal shelter on Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave, following reports of a fire.
Officers attached to Hawkesbury Police Area Command attended and were told the animal shelter – which contained animals at the time – had caught alight.
A member of the public, who was driving past at the time of the incident, entered the shelter and rescued several dogs from kennels.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze; however, several cats and kittens within the shelter were unable to be saved.
A crime scene was established and investigations commenced into the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
About 5.30pm the same say, emergency services received reports the animal shelter was on fire again before it was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW a short time later.
Between 5.45pm and 6.20pm the same day, emergency services were called to bushland areas across McGraths Hill and Windsor, following reports of multiple grass fires, which were extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Police.
Following inquiries, about 6.30pm the same day, police arrested a 35-year-old man on Windsor Road, McGraths Hills, before he was taken to Windsor Police Station.
The man was charged with three counts of intentionally cause fire and to be reckless as to its spread, damage property by fire/explosion greater than $15000 and torture, beat and cause death of animal.
He was refused bail to appear before Penrith Local Court today (Tuesday 3 November 2026), where he was formally refused bail to reappear on Friday 20 November 2026.
