Man arrested as young family shares close call after overnight arson attack at Christie Downs
A man has been arrested a week after allegedly torching a Christie Downs home, forcing a young family to flee for their lives. There has been a spate of suspicious fires in the area.
SA News
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A man has been arrested a week after he allegedly torched a Christie Downs home causing $150,000 in damage.
The fire broke out at a home on Finbar Crescent about 8pm Monday, March 28.
Most of the home was destroyed and fire cause investigators deemed it suspicious after finding a jerry can nearby.
Following investigations, a man of no fixed address, 27, was arrested and charged with arson.
He was refused bail and is expected to appear in court later on Tuesday.
Annalise Madigan and partner Alex Howse were preparing to put their son Blake to bed when they heard loud bangs at the rear of their Christie Downs property on the night of the fire.
The young mother said she “doesn’t feel safe” after her home was threatened by flames coming from the home next door..
They soon realised there was a well-alight fire inside the adjoining property.
“I was on the phone to my Dad and I just said to him that there was a massive explosion,” Ms Madigan said.
“I just grabbed my son and came outside and the windows were just bursting with flames.”
Mr Howse quickly called fire fighters who contained the blaze in around 10 minutes.
Police declared the fire as suspicious.
Ms Madigan said it was frightening because the two properties are attached.
“They could have gotten our window, if you didn’t know, you could just think it was all one house or think that our window was part of their side,” she said.
“We went to Junction (Southern Junction Youth Services) to get this house and to get placed in such an area, it doesn’t feel safe.”
It’s the latest in a series of arson attacks at Christie Downs in recent months, but police say this was not linked to other incidents.
On Friday March 25, a home on Finian Road was targeted for a second time in a matter of months when a deliberately lit blaze destroyed 70 per cent of the property.
It had been targeted in November 2021 in another arson attack.
On February 24, a suspicious fire destroyed a unit on nearby Rufus Crescent and in November another unit was damaged on Nadia Crescent.
A police spokesman said they are investigating if there are any links between the fires.
“The house next door on the other side was burnt down a few years ago,” Mr Howse said.
“It’s scary, but I suppose you don’t just get your house burned down for no reason.”
Anyone with information any recent fire who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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