Police in Victoria have released CCTV footage as part of a renewed investigation into a suspected deliberate house fire that endangered a father and his two children in Cobden, a town in south-west Victoria.

The fire occurred at a property on Mitchell Street shortly after 6 am on 5 February 2026. According to investigators, a man was inside the house with his children, aged five and 16, when the incident unfolded. The family was fortunate to escape without physical injuries.

The father was preparing to leave for work when he heard a loud whooshing sound as flames spread into the home. He attempted to fight the fire while contacting emergency services. Firefighters subsequently attended the property and extinguished the blaze.

Police say the incident could have had devastating consequences because the family was inside the house when the fire started. Investigators have described the incident as a deliberate and extremely reckless act, while continuing to investigate who was responsible and why the property was targeted.

After investigating the case for approximately seven months, detectives released footage showing a person of interest outside the property. The individual was reportedly wearing a blue jacket with the hood raised, black trousers and running shoes. The person's face was covered.

Investigators believe the footage shows the individual using a substance thought to be an accelerant before the flames took hold. An accelerant is a substance that can help a fire ignite or spread more rapidly. Police have also asked the public to help identify a silver Mazda 3 seen travelling towards Camperdown along Camperdown–Cobden Road approximately five minutes after the fire. The vehicle reportedly had an external sunshade on its rear-left window and damage to its rear-left bumper.

Detectives believe the fire may have been targeted, although the motive has not been established publicly. Police have followed several lines of inquiry and say information from members of the public could help move the investigation forward. Authorities are appealing to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity near Mitchell Street around the time of the incident, recognises the person in the CCTV footage or knows something about the vehicle to contact Crime Stoppers. Dashcam recordings from the surrounding roads may also assist investigators.

The investigation remains focused on identifying those responsible and establishing the circumstances behind the fire. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to provide it to police rather than approach a person they suspect may be involved.