Financial crimes detectives are investigating arson attacks at two pilates studios within an hour of each other on the NSW Central Coast.

The fires were lit in the early hours of January 21, and on Wednesday police released CCTV footage of two cars and a person they are trying to find.

The footage shows a man with a black hoodie pulled over his head smashing the studio’s front door, emptying a jerry can and then lighting the fire that seemingly explodes in his face before he drives away.

The intensity of the ignition blows out a shared wall and a panel on the front of the business next to the studio as well.

“The fires are being treated as suspicious, with initial inquiries suggesting the incidents are linked,” a police spokesperson said.

The first fire was lit at a pilates studio in Erina, 60km south of Newcastle, about 4.20am on January 21.

Nobody was injured but the building was badly damaged. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Some 45 minutes later, the second fire was lit at another pilates studio in the nearby suburb of Berkeley Vale. Again, police say nobody was injured but the building was significantly damaged.

Shortly after, police were called to a burnt-out car a few kilometres away on Cobbs Rd in the suburb of Mardi.

The footage released by police shows the first fire at the pilates studio in Erina.

A white Mitsubishi SUV and black Subaru Impreza drive up to the building before a man gets out of the Subaru, smashes the front door and lights the fire.

The huge fireball seemingly engulfs the arsonist for a second before he walks back to the car and drives off.