Elderly couple escape from Sydney blaze

An 80-year-old woman used a bucket of water to try to put out a blaze at her Sydney home after it was targeted by arsonists.

Margaret Hogan and her husband Aub, 90, found the front door of their Canley Vale home ablaze about 7.30pm on Saturday.

Fearing the house would burn down, Mrs Hogan told the ABC she threw a bucket of water on the door before neighbours and firefighters arrived and put out the fire.

Police believe an accelerant was used in the targeted attack which has left the couple nervous.

"Unfortunately the elderly couple were traumatised," Cabramatta Police Chief Inspector Arthur Aleksandrowicz told reporters.

"I can just imagine how tired and upset they would be considering they have been living there all their lives."

Police have appealed for witnesses to the blaze to come forward, including a number of young people.

"A number of youths were seen a short distance from the house at the time of the fire and police would like to speak to them," Chief Insp Aleksandrowicz said.

Mr Hogan said he thought the fire might have been someone trying to scare them into selling the house, after several real estate agents approached them recently about the land.

But the couple say they're not too scared to stay.