SHOCKING new footage has emerged of a Waterloo speed camera being firebombed by vandals.

The footage was posted by YouTube user Chiptong Hot Pepper Sauce and shot from the apartment block at 222 Botany Rd.

Shot from about 20m away, the microphone picks up the sizzle coming from a tyre which was hooked over the eastbound camera that has dished out $1 million in fines.

media_camera The speed camera well ablaze in Waterloo. Picture: Video Grab

media_camera The camera that works the McEvoy St and Botany Rd Waterloo intersection

Speed camera firebomb witness Neil Thomas woke up Monday morning to a “crackle and pop” that he thought was his cat, Ginger Ninja, scratching the couch again.

What he found was the McEvoy St speed and red light camera “going gangbusters” with flames, as rubber from a burning tyre dripped onto the footpath.

The eastbound camera, which has raised $991,888 from motorists since it was installed in December 2010, was the target of what many believe was a 5am revenge attack.

“There was a lot of black smoke. It was a bit of a shock to see that and you could see the cars slowing down. We could smell the burning rubber,” the 33-year-old said.

“We saw one guy who was in a black hoodie but he looked like he was on the phone. About 10 minutes later the fire fighters turned up and put the fire out.”

The video was captured about 20m away from his sixth floor apartment on Botany Rd.

media_camera The camera at the corner of McEvoy St and Botany Rd Waterloo / Picture: John Grainger media_camera The camera at the corner of McEvoy St and Botany Rd Waterloo / Picture: John Grainger

The small business owner, who was at home with his wife Kristy, believed there was an accelerant used.

“Some idiot obviously has maybe been booked by the camera too many times and just had enough and decided to burn it,” he said.

”It is irresponsible for someone to do that. The fire could have set the business next to it alight. At the end of the day it is going to cost us taxpayers more money.”

When Mr Thomas checked out the scene a few hours later he saw two milk crates, an incinerated tyre and blackened speed camera that showed very little real damage.

Redfern Police said the investigations are continuing.

media_camera The remains of a burning tyre that was hung on the camera / Picture: John Grainger

Alexandria residents are describing the vandalism as “taking revenge” and “incredibly stupid” of the firebugs who allegedly stood on two milk crates before hooking the burning tyre over the top of the camera about 5.30am on Monday.

Redfern Police and Roads and Maritime Services are investigating the incident, with an RMS spokesman saying they will be conducting “a full assessment of damage”.

Christie Brewster, 32, who is staying in Alexandria and was walking past the crime scene, said revenge was the most likely motive.

“It would probably be someone who has been hit by the camera,” she said.

“I do not think there are enough speed cameras around. I’m a responsible driver

and have not been hit by the speed

cameras myself.”

The event was captured on a CCTV camera mounted on traffic lights at the corner of McEvoy St and Botany Rd.

The camera has raked in $403,872 this financial year, with all but $6972 coming from motorists running the red light. Locals defended the installation of the camera after a recent string of accidents. A three-year-old girl was killed at the intersection in 2007 when a truck ran her over. Her mother as injured.

Kyle Parker, who lives in an apartment on McEvoy St overlooking the camera, said he had a negative view of speed and red light cameras, but this one was needed: “I have seen accidents here, including a four-car accident where it was lucky someone was

not killed.”