Christmas Day blaze rips through Naracoorte business and prompts warning over choking clouds of smoke

A fire deemed suspicious destroyed a major Naracoorte business on Christmas Day, but the devastated owners have vowed to rebuild.

A suspicious fire engulfed a Naracoorte business on Christmas Day, sending a cloud of heavy smoke over the South-East town.

Naracoorte Motorcycles and Mowers was destroyed the blaze, sending a cloud of heavy smoke over the southeast town.

The Country Fire Service, SA Police and the SA Ambulance Service attended the business on Gordon St around 7.50pm on Sunday.

Initial reports indicated a shed at the rear of the property was alight but flames soon spread to the main building.

A local Naracoorte business has been engulfed in fire. Emergency services were called to Gordon Street after reports of large plumes of smoke coming from a business property. No occupants were in the building with investigations continuing into the cause of the fire. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/hJ0dXmcXhs

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) December 26, 2022

Business owners Tony and Narelle posted to Facebook saying the fire was their “nightmare” but thanking the firefighters.

“Unfortunately this morning we have woken to see that our nightmare is in fact reality, with our shop destroyed by a devastating fire overnight,” they wrote.

“Thankfully we are insured and with the great support of our customers, suppliers and vendors, we will rebuild and we will be back.”

Several local brigades including eight fire trucks contained the blaze to the structure and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring properties.

The fire at Naracoorte Motorcycles and Mowers. Picture: 7NEWS Adelaide

Hazmat crews also attended the scene as around 2000L of waste oil and fuel was on site.

The building was unoccupied and there were no reported injuries.

Choking clouds of black smoke prompted authorities to warn locals to stay away from the scene and close their doors and windows.

Detectives and fire cause investigators will attend the scene today to examine the cause of the fire. The damage bill is unknown.

A fire tore through an almost 125 year old hotel in Peterborough. Picture: Supplied

It comes only days after a fire tore through the 125-year-old Federal Hotel in Peterborough.

Upon arrival, fire crews had found the disused main street pub well alight with heavy smoke billowing from the building.

Additional MFS and CFS crews attended the scene and the fire was contained to the ground floor and one room on the first floor.

The hotel sustained extensive damage and the back room and first floor veranda are in danger of collapsing. Authorities have warned there could be asbestos on site.