Arson attack feared as YouTube star FriendlyJordies’ sprawling beachside home is destroyed in a ‘suspicious’ fire
- Home of Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as FriendlyJordies, destroyed in fire
- Emergency services rushed to the Bondi home early Wednesday to find it alight
- Shanks-Markovina, who lives at the back of the house, was not home at the time
A ‘suspicious’ fire has destroyed the beachside home of popular Australian Youtuber FriendlyJordies, with police suspecting the blaze was deliberately lit.
Emergency services were called to Wilga Street in Bondi at about 12.30am on Wednesday to find the home engulfed in flames.
Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as FriendlyJordies on his popular political commentary YouTube channel, lives at the back of the impacted property but was not home at the time of the fire.
It was the second suspected arson attack at the home in the past week.
A smaller fire broke out at the Bondi home on November 16 but was able to be put out before it caused any significant damage.
Firefighters were seen at the home on Tuesday night examining the fire from a ladder while using two hoses to extinguish the blaze.
Firefighters were called to Wilga Street in Bondi at about 12.30am on Wednesday, where they found the home of Youtuber FriendlyJordies engulfed in flames (pictured)
Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as FriendlyJordies on his popular political commentary YouTube channel, lives at the back of the impacted property
Two elderly residents escaped the front of the burning property, while another three neighbours evacuated their home next door – no one was injured during the fire.
NSW Police are treating the fire as ‘suspicious’ and are investigating whether Tuesday’s fire and the November 16 blaze are linked.
Neighbour Astrid Rickard said she woke to the sound of the fire, which she initially thought was fireworks for the WorldCup.
NSW police are treating the fire as ‘suspicious’ and are investigating whether it is linked to a suspected arson attack at the same property
Firefighters used a ladder to examine the fire from above while two hoses were used to extinguish the blaze (pictured)
‘We woke up and I actually thought it was fireworks for the WorldCup, but I looked out the living room [window] and basically next door was on fire,’ Ms Rickard said.
‘We quickly got out of the house and grabbed the dog. Lots of people were already out on the street… it was pretty full-on.’
Ms Rickard said the fire ‘took off pretty quick’ as her neighbours house is a beautiful old 1930s home built with a lot of wood.
The sprawling beachside home and a neighbouring property were significantly damaged by the fire.
Ms Rickard believes the fire was a deliberate arson attack by someone who has ‘got it out’ for the controversial political comedian FriendlyJordies.
‘FriendlyJordies lives at the back, so we kind of have a feeling it has something to do with that,’ Ms Rickard said.
‘This is the second attack in one week, so it is a bit concerning being right next door.
‘Someone has obviously got it out for someone cause this not a normal house fire, this does not just happen, someone’s thrown something in that veranda and got that house on fire.’
More to come.
Neighbour Astrid Rickard initially thought the fire was fireworks for the WorldCup but grabbed her dog and evacuated her home when she realised the house next door was engulfed in flames (pictured, left: Ms Rickard with her dog)
Advertisement