Shocked neighbours speak out after $3.75m Netherby home destroyed in huge house fire
Shocked neighbours say they could feel the heat of a devastating $3.75m house fire in Adelaide’s east on their own doorstep – thankfully, a family of six and two dogs are all safe.
SA News
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Heroic firefighters kicked down a door to save one of two pet dogs trapped in a house fire at Netherby in which a mansion worth nearly $4m was destroyed.
The U-shaped home on Netherby Ave was reported on fire about 10.10pm Monday.
Multiple residents called 000 to report the fire, and 45 firefighters rushed to the scene to find the home fully ablaze with the roof caving in.
The six occupants – a couple, their young children, and the mother’s parents – self-evacuated and firefighters then found a second dog, which they also rescued from the burning home.
Fire cause investigators at the scene on Tuesday morning deemed the cause was accidental but undetermined, due to the “extensive damage” to the home’s roof and floors.
Neighbour Tania Taft, 51, said her son woke to loud noises that sounded like firecrackers about 10.30 on Monday night.
“We smelt it first. And the kids thought that perhaps there was something in our house that was on fire,” she said.
“And then they came outside and there was smoke billowing everywhere. And then my daughter came in saying, ‘there’s a house on fire next door. The house next door is on fire’. And I was like, ‘Oh my god’.”
Ms Taft said the smoke made its way to her house.
“The smoke affected us inside, everybody could smell it because it just comes down the chimneys … it was pretty toxic.”
Warren Brown, 72, said the flames got to about 10m high.
“The smoke was really quite thick. And yes, the flames were quite high,” he said.
Mr Brown said he walked over to the house but had to come back as he was covered in smoke.
“It really was quite horrible. We had the window open and smelt the smoke and came out and saw the billowing smoke,” he said.
Sonya Jury, 50, said she never thought she’d open her front door to see a neighbour’s house on fire.
“I opened my door and the house was just on fire. I could feel the heat,” she said.
Ms Jury said she originally thought the noise from the fire was roadworks.
“The sounds changed and became more like smashing glass, I thought that’s not right.”
Ms Jury said she called fire services but they had already been alerted.
Within minutes the house was well alight.
“We were just worried because we didn’t know if anyone was in the house or if anyone was home. I’m just glad to hear that they are all safe,” she said.
The 11-room brick conventional home has a capital value of $3.75m.
Built in 1966, it was on 940 sqm and featured a home theatre room, large pool and light-up bar in addition to its four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
The home last sold in 2013 by Williams Real Estate for $2.65m.
Jamie Brown, sales consultant from Booth Real Estate said it would cost about $3500 per sqm or more to replace the property in the Netherby area.
“In terms of the land and replacement cost, I’m not sure the extent of the fire… but if it’s gutted it will cost well more than a million dollars to replace that,” Mr Brown said
“It’s a beautiful spot; I hope they’re well insured.”
Firefighters took about an hour to contain the fire, which forced the partial closure of Fullarton Rd for several hours.
Crews remained at the scene monitoring hot spots on Monday night.
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