Teen charged over Sydney house fire with 88yo woman inside

A 17-year-old boy has been charged over a house fire that left four people hospitalised, including an 88-year-old woman, in Sydney's inner west. Forty firefighters and 10 trucks were called to Abbotsford about 4am on Tuesday to respond to a home well alight. An 88-year-old woman, her son and his wife were rescued and taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. A 49-year-old man, who climbed a ladder to save the elderly woman, was also taken to hospital. Another man, who police said was a long-term renter at the home, received treatment but did not require hospitalisation. Police said a 17-year-old boy was arrested about 11pm on Tuesday at a home in Merrylands. He was treated for burns to his hands and legs before being taken to hospital, and remains in a stable condition. Police said a search warrant was carried out at the home with detectives seizing "a number of items of interest". The teenager has been charged with damaging property by fire or explosion to the value of more than $15,000. He was also charged with being carried in conveyance taken without the consent of the owner, and obtaining property by deception. He was refused bail and is expected to appear before Parramatta Bail Division Court on Wednesday.