Security in place as investigators return to Stirling Village after huge blaze
A Stirling Woolies worker has recalled the terrifying moment fire gripped the shopping centre, as businesses count the cost of the devastating blaze now valued at $25m. See the aftermath here.
Adelaide Hills & Murraylands
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Fire cause investigators are poring over the burnt wreck of Stirling Village after a huge blaze swept through the shopping centre on Sunday, causing at least $25 million damage.
Dramatic drone pictures show the extent of the devastation, after the fire erupted in Woolworths on Sunday afternoon, causing shoppers to flee for their lives and sending a plume of toxic smoke over the Hills town.
Security is on site preventing public access as CFS personnel and members of McMahon Services continue to examine the site.
Two 14-year-old boys have been charged with arson over the inferno, with police on Monday issuing a plea for any witnesses to come forward.
Police also called for anyone who captured suspicious behaviour in the area on dashcam or mobile phone footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
All neighbouring specialty shops remain closed including the Green Dispensary Pharmacy, Cibo Coffee.
Country Fire Service chief officer Brett Loughlin said the blaze had caused $25 million damage, a figure that may rise higher as investigations continue.
“Daylight has revealed the true extent of the devastation of yesterday’s fire,” he said.
“Some of the early action firefighters took in the face of a significant rapidly-escalating fire meant the damage to the businesses that surround this premise had been minimised and they’ll be reopening a lot sooner than they otherwise would have been.
“Our hearts go out to the businesses that have been affected by this … we will do everything we can over the coming days to help normalise the scene so we can hand it back to the owners and they can start inevitable task of demolition or repairs.”
A Stirling Woolworths worker detailed the “terrifying” moment a column of flames shot up just metres from where she was working on Sunday.
Permanent part-time employee Leela Cotton Kenny was on shift when the blaze started and said the fire started to spread “insanely quickly”.
“It was quite terrifying really, the moment the fire alarms went off I looked to my right and it’s a huge column of flames going up,” she said.
“By the time I’m outside … there’s just smoke pouring out of the roof in a matter of minutes.”
Ms Cotton Kenny – who has worked at the store for four years – said her first reaction was to make sure everyone got out safely.
“I looked down the aisles and there where people there, a mother with a pram so we started to usher people out … the manager was on the PA saying, ‘this is not a drill we need to get everyone out’,” she said.
She said she returned to the store on Monday to pick up her car which was locked in overnight and described the scene as “shocking”.
“It’s quite heartbreaking honestly, it’s a lovely place to work and a big part of the community fixture here at Stirling,” she said.
The university student said the part-time job had been crucial for her.
“This store was always a part of my five-year plan, looking to the future, this job was always a constant for me – it’s difficult to come to terms with it being gone now.”
She said Woolworths had indicated it was looking to relocate the workforce.
“It does mean a lot of uncertainty moving forward but just hoping everyone will keep their jobs and get their pay,” she said.
Ms Cotton Kenny said co-workers had reported seeing two young people fleeing after the blaze started.
“It’s heartbreaking that young kids could be doing things like this,” she said.
Chris and Giselle Pfitzner, owners of Stirling Variety Meats in the fire-ravaged complex, rushed to the scene when news hit the centre was ablaze.
“We got the call and came from Mount Barker and came over the Hahndorf hill and you can just see the bloom, it literally looked like a mushroom, like a bomb had gone off,” Mrs Pfitzner said.
The couple – parents of teenagers – said they were shocked to hear of the arrest of two teens.
Mrs Pfitzner said she was caught at traffic lights on Sunday and it appeared a police car next to them had what appeared to be the suspects in a car.
“It was a bit of a harrowing feeling”, she said.
However, the duo reserved any anger and said it was more of a sad situation.
“I feel for the parents – this would be the worst feeling ever,” Mr Pfitzner said.
“After school and in school holidays there’s always kids here.
“At the front of our shop there’s a set of chairs, like a park bench and they all leave their bikes there … I’ve probably been giving them fritz since they were four.”
Mrs Pfitzner said she hoped the blaze was a silly act gone wrong.
“I mean if they went in with any intent then that’s different but if it was just some kids being silly then I feel sorry,” she said.
Mr Pfitzner said it would take time to calculate the damage bill but estimated $15,000 worth of stock in the store.
He said he expects $150,000 worth of machinery as well as cabinets and cool rooms would have been damaged.
He said it was unsure when he could resume trading.
“It could be two weeks, a month, 12 months, we are really not sure,” he said.
Adelaide Hills Mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom paid tribute to the efforts of the emergency services for what she called the region’s biggest fire event, outside of bushfires.
“The (community) is very sad, this is very much the heart of this particular community in Stirling,” she said.
She said the council had reached out to the Stirling Business Association to form a plan to help small businesses impacted by the blaze.
“One of the things we talked about was the possibility of putting up pop-up shops for the businesses.”
She said a potential plan would see businesses operating out of caravan-like setups if they are unable to return to their premises for an extended period of time.
SDA secretary Josh Peak described the arson attack as “devastating”.
“The store was totally destroyed in this senseless incident,” he said.
“We are relieved that all workers are safe and that no one was killed or injured.
“No one should go to work and have to worry about if they’ll come home safely.”
The SDA, the union for shop workers, has also sought a guarantee from Woolworths that all staff will continue to be paid for hours they would have worked prior to the fire.
Hills resident Tim Williams visited the site on Monday morning to pick up his mail from the post office, just metres from Sunday’s blaze.
“I was a bit worried my mail might have gotten burnt, it’s so close, he said.
Mr Williams said the blaze would cause a headache for Stirling residents for months to come.
“This will be quite disruptive, it’s the main shopping district in the area and I imagine the building will be condemned.”
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze after crews were called to Woolworths at the Stirling Village shopping centre about 2.15pm on Sunday, following reports a fire ignited in the aisles.
The centre was evacuated with bystanders reporting explosions, along with large black billowing plumes of smoke.
Two teenage boys, both aged 14 from Heathfield and Bridgewater, have been charged with arson.
SA Police said they were bailed to appear in the Mount Barker Youth Court on December 14.
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