Heathfield, Bridgewater teens contest charges over $25m Stirling Woolworths fire in Adelaide Hills

Two teen boys accused of lighting a multimillion-dollar fire at a popular Adelaide Hills shopping centre are heading to trial.

Two teenage boys accused of lighting a multimillion-dollar fire at a popular shopping centre in the Adelaide Hills are contesting the allegations and will go to trial later this year.

The two boys, from Bridgewater and Heathfield who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court on Tuesday morning charged with one count each of arson of a building or motor vehicle.

The court heard the boys would continue to contest the allegations that they set fire to the Stirling Woolworths on October 15 last year.

One of the teenagers charged with arson over the $25m Stirling Woolworths fire outside court. Picture: Jessica Dempster

Phone video of a fire inside Woolworths at Stirling Picture: 7NEWS

The fire caused $25m worth of damage, both destroying the supermarket and damaging surrounding stores.

At the time of the incident, bystanders reported sounds of explosions.

The two boys were released on bail following their arrests, but the court on Tuesday heard a trial would go ahead in mid December.

The court heard there would be approximately eight witnesses called to give evidence, including two civilian witnesses - “an off duty police officer and husband”.

There will also be evidence from surrounding business owners about the extent of the damage, CCTV from the day of the fire and data collected from the boys’ mobile phones.

Magistrate Alison Adair also raised the question of whether each boy would be tried as a principal offender, or if they would be tried as a joint criminal enterprise.

The boys, who go to the same school, were reminded of their bail condition not to be in contact with each other - including during recess and lunch breaks.

They have both been excused from a status conference hearing in November, ahead of their criminal trial in December.