A SUSPICIOUS fire completely destroyed a vacant unit in Mount Gambier on Wednesday night, with investigators continuing to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
Mount Gambier Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), police and paramedics rushed to a block of units on Umpherston Street just before 11pm.
A short time prior, a neighbour noticed the blaze when he saw smoke coming from a building while he was putting his bins out.
“I took out garbage for the morning and walking back to the house I saw thick grey smoke with red dancing around the smoke,” the neighbour told The Border Watch.
“I walked down two doors and saw the third unit of the premises on fire, so I banged on the windows and on the windows next door, but received no response.”
The neighbour then called 000 and firefighters were deployed.
Three MFS appliances carrying 12 firefighters attended and were able to contain the fire in around 15 minutes.
Mount Gambier MFS retained station officer Rob Baker said it was a “reasonable fire”, which they were able to get under control quickly.
“We were able to contain the fire to the one structure and people in surrounding buildings were evacuated as a precaution,” Mr Baker said.
“At no stage was there a risk to nearby structures.”
Mr Baker said firefighters were on the scene for around an hour and a half until they fully extinguished the blaze.
Residents on the quiet Mount Gambier Street stood on the footpath as they watched emergency services fill the road, before a section was closed while the fire was contained.
Police quickly deemed the fire as suspicious and began door-knocking on neighbouring homes to find out any information.
Initial reports by police media stated remains of a Molotov cocktail were found at the scene after broken bottles were located inside the unit.
Those reports were retracted with fire cause investigators determining the bottles were already in the unit before the fire started.
“A number of bottles can be seen in the ceiling of the roof, which has helped us establish they had been stored up there before the fire began,” an investigator said.
“We can confidently rule out Molotov cocktails being used in this incident.”
Fire cause investigators attended the scene yesterday morning to pick through the damage and assess the scene of the blaze.
They said the origin of the fire was at the front door of the unit and spread throughout the property.
“There is a clear indication the fire started at the front door and we will continue to investigate what was used to start it,” one investigator said.
It is believed the unit had been vacant for over six weeks.
Mr Baker estimated the damage bill to be around $150,000.
Police are asking anyone with information that may assist the investigation to report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
