Home, shed destroyed in Maslin Beach blaze, causing city-bound delays

A witness was woken on Thursday to flames and explosions at his neighbour’s property in Maslin Beach, which has been completely destroyed.

A home and hay shed were gutted in a huge overnight blaze at Maslin Beach.

The alarm was raised at the Thomas Rd home about 10.15pm on Wednesday, where fire crews came across a three bedroom home and nearby hay shed of 400 sqm engulfed by flames.

Supplied Editorial A fire destroyed a home and a shed at Maslin Beach. Picture: Max Parkin

Cost of damage is estimated at $300,000. Picture: Max Parkin

More than 50 Country Fire Service volunteers contained the blaze but both structures were completely destroyed, causing $300,000 in damage.

No occupants were home at the time of the fire, and investigations into its cause will be conducted on Thursday morning.

Max Parkin lives next door to the destroyed home, about 200m away, and said he was woken by the fire trucks and lights.

“I went down my street and saw the house ablaze,” Mr Parkin said.

Fire cause investigators were at the scene on Thursday morning. Picture: Keryn Stevens

A large shed was also destroyed. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“There was a lot of flames coming out of the windows and roof, the smoke was billowing everywhere.

“You could hear a few things exploding, I don’t know if it was paint tins or something.”

He said the owners do not live at the property as they were in the process of renovating the home before it caught fire.

Max Parkin woke to sirens and fire trucks. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Earlier on Thursday, a truck fire caused delays for city-bound motorists on the South Eastern Freeway.

The blaze broke out at Leawood Gardens, on the down track of the busy thoroughfare about 4.30am Thursday.

The South Eastern Freeway is now clear.

— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) February 23, 2022

Traffic for city-bound motorists was restricted to two lanes while the scene was being cleared, but all lanes were reported reopened about 7am.

No-one was injured in the fire.

It comes as the state’s firefighters’ union today launches a new campaign, pleading with all political parties to commit to increased resourcing ahead of the state election.

United Firefighters Union SA secretary Max Adlam said firefighting trucks were unreliable and often broke down, with no spare trucks to cover gaps.

“Fire stations are not properly equipped to protect firefighters from harmful toxins like diesel particulates and no plan exists to upgrade them,” Ms Adlam said.

The campaign has six “asks”:

- Fire trucks that don’t break down

- Proper mechanical support

- Essential safety equipment and protective clothing

- Proper training and skills maintenance

- Better resources for our regional fire stations, and

- A plan to upgrade fire stations.