LEO Nitto’s two-bedroom unit was one of five destroyed by a fire that was deliberately lit in Adelaide Street, Blayney at midnight on Friday.
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Mr Nitto said while he was devastated his family, including four children, lost all of their personal possessions in the blaze, he was thankful no one was hurt.
“I’ve been in Orange hospital for a week because my finger was amputated after I was bitten by a spider, so everyone was staying in Orange when the fire happened,” he said.
“But we’ve lost everything ... the whole place was completely gutted.”
Mr Nitto said he was lucky the rental property had content insurance
Mr Nitto believes his family was the target of the blaze and says he’s been the victim of a long-running vendetta by a group of Blayney residents.
“We’ve been targeted over the last couple of years, and we’ve had threats made against us,” he said.
“We’ve had tyres slashed and then when we get new tyres, they’re slashed again.
“We’ve also had our rear-vision mirror smashed and wheel nuts loosened.”
Mr Nitto said Housing NSW would help the family find somewhere to live.
“I just want to tell those responsible that enough is enough,” he said.
Police from Chifley Local Area Command said their investigations had determined the fire was deliberately lit and they’re urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them immediately.
It’s unknown how many apartments were tenanted at the time of the blaze.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au