Newly released CCTV footage shows a pair of arsonists narrowly escaping a fire they lit at a cafe in Sydney's east earlier this year.

NSW Police have released the footage as they renew their appeal for information about the incident.

The video shows two men dousing the cafe with accelerant before setting it alight, followed by a large explosion.

"The second male whilst inside lights up what appears to be a piece of paper and as the males exit he throws the paper towards the petrol and it ignites," Inspector Anthony Agnew said.

"There's an explosion and the CCTV footage picks up one of the males running across Anzac Parade and his leg is on fire at the time."

Inspector Agnew said the man's injury could be the key to finding the suspects.

"We're appealing to the public for assistance in identifying these males, that includes anyone that may have treated the male that may have sustained burns to his leg," he said.

He added if any men attended a chemist or medical centre around that time, to please contact police.

The aftermath of an explosion and fire at a Maroubra cafe. ( ABC: Jackson Vernon )

About 50 people were evacuated from the multi-storey building on Anzac Parade at Maroubra in May, when the explosion ripped through the ground floor cafe in the early hours of the morning.

When police arrived the building was well alight and it took about 30 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.

Inspector Agnew said it was crucial to their investigation that they find the two men.

"They're both of medium build, they're both wearing dark clothing with hoodies and one appears to be a grey hoodie," he said.

"The first male is wearing some sort of balaclava or cloth around his face and the second male is wearing what he's referred to as a Guy Fawkes mask."