Man describes escaping burning home as police hunt Sydney firebug

A man has described how he escaped his burning home after it was allegedly set alight by a firebug on an arson spree across a Sydney suburb.

Kelvern Isdahl, 70, was dozing inside his house in Glebe in the inner west, when the smoke alarm went off.

"I thought 'what the bloody hell's that?" Mr Isdahl told 9News.

"I walked to the front door, and then I saw the flames coming from the window, and the smoke. The smoke got me right in the lungs.

"If I'd have been asleep they would have been taking me to the morgue."

He suffered a burn to his shoulder and was taken to hospital. He has since been released.

His pet budgies perished in the fire.

Mr Isdahl said he thought the person who started the blaze was "a low life."

Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Superintendent Rob Jansen said they feared the blaze could spread along the row of terraces, but they managed to extinguish it.

Act Sup Int said the blaze was the worst of a series of fires overnight.

Earlier, a fire was started at shop front on Norton Street at 11.40pm, before a front veranda of a home on Campbell Street set alight soon after.

One woman was evacuated but there was only minor damage.

Next, a garage fire in Derwent Lane quickly spread to a neighbouring garage, causing extensive damage, with a family losing everything they had stored inside - from kids bikes and clothes to books and Christmas decorations.

The suspect then moved on to Mr Isdalhl's house.

Soon after, emergency services responded to a car fire on Westmoreland Street.

Police and Fire and Rescue NSW are investigating.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.