Delay for two teens charged over Surry Hills blaze as cops wait on expert report, triple-0 calls

Two teens will have to wait months for a decision about their futures after allegedly starting a horrific fire which destroyed a heritage building and brought Sydney’s CBD to a standstill.

Footage of the inferno was beamed live around the country as fire tore through the site at Randle Street in Surry Hills on May 25.

Commuters on their way home from work watched on as the historical building collapsed before their eyes, while more than 100 firefighters raced to protect nearby apartments and office blocks from the blaze.

Following a lengthy investigation, Arson Squad detectives in August charged two 13-year-old boys, who cannot be named under law, with starting the fire.

Dog “Polar” and handler Snr Constable David Jarnet pictured at the site of Surry Hills fire. NCA NewsWire, Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia

On Monday their case returned to the Surry Hills Children’s Court where it was adjourned again due to the “extensive” amount of evidence that police are still trying to piece together.

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A NSW Director of Public Prosecution told the court “the brief was served early last week, and it is an extensive brief with over three volumes”.

Prosecutors said they are still waiting on expert fire reports and triple-0 calls from the incident to bring a case against the teenagers.

“The extra amount of time will hopefully allow us to hone in on what the issues actually are,” they said.

At an earlier hearing in October, the two 13-year-olds, who the court was told were still at school, did not appear in person and were excused from attending future court appearances.

Magistrate Sue Duncombe on the last occasion told the court: “When people are involved in school … we don’t need to have them here for what would be a 5 minute mention”.

The teens are both charged with destroying property worth more than $5000 with fire and in company, and entering enclosed lands without permission.

Bricks and debris on Randle Street, Surry Hills, after a fire caused a building to collapse. NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia

One of boys also separately faces two charges of shoplifting, which police allege occurred at a grocery store on nearby Elizabeth St on the same day.

The NSW DPP previously said a Crown prosecutor would be elected to oversee the teen’s case. Both matters have since been transferred back into the carriage of the DPP.

Two neighbouring buildings were significantly damaged by the inferno, with dozens of people evacuated though no injuries were reported.

The building was slated for a multimillion-dollar renovation which would have converted it into a new five-star hotel near Central train station.

Clean-up crews were unable to access the building for five days after the blaze, and it was eventually demolished over the course of multiple weeks.

The massive fire broke out in Sydney 's Surry Hills in May. 9NEWS Credit: Channel 9

Initially, emergency services had feared for people sleeping rough in the abandoned building, and police and cadaver dogs spent days combing tonnes of debris to search for anyone who may have been caught up in the blaze inside.

Eventually all were unaccounted for by police.

The case and will return to the Children’s Court on February 13, 2024 to fix a hearing date.