Police fear dangerous youth ‘trend’ after Stirling Woolworths blaze

Police have raised concerns about a rising youth trend in the wake of a devastating Woolworths fire – as they launch a fresh appeal for witnesses.

Police are investigating whether more people could have been involved in a blaze that destroyed a Stirling shopping centre and devastated the local community, as they raise concerns over a growing youth trend.

At a press conference outside the Stirling Library on Friday, police launched a fresh appeal for witnesses over the fire.

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze at the Stirling Village shopping centre on the afternoon of October 15, after crews were called to Woolworths following reports a fire ignited in the aisles.

Inspector Gene Vaninetti said police had seen increasing numbers of incidents involving young people using aerosol cans to light fires.

Insp Vaninetti said a juvenile was involved in another incident in the Adelaide Hills recently, where an aerosol can was used to spark a blaze.

While that case was not linked to the Woolworths fire, he said police had concerns over what appeared to be a growing trend.

“We’re not sure where it’s come from, whether that be online or elsewhere … but we do have concerns coming into fire danger season and the warmer months, specifically in the Hills area,” Insp Vaninetti said.

The huge blaze that erupted in the Stirling Woolworths on October 15. The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

More than 100 firefighters battled the huge blaze. The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

The blaze, which started in the Stirling Woolworths, caused more than $25 million in damage. Picture: Chad Habel

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the Stirling blaze to come forward following the arrest of two youths.

“It could be any information, whether it be big or small – a piece of information may seem small to you but it may form part of a bigger picture,” Insp Vaninetti said.

“There were a lot of people in the supermarket at the time so there are definitely potential witnesses who have not spoken to police yet.”

Insp Vaninetti said the entire community had been hit by the devastating fire.

“The impact of this fire is greater than just Woolworths, there are a lot of surrounding businesses that were affected by this fire and a lot of people were displaced from their employment,” he said.

“There’s a ripple effect around this.”

The centre was evacuated with bystanders reporting explosions, along with large black billowing plumes of smoke.

Woolworths on Sunday afternoon, causing shoppers to flee for their lives and sending a plume of toxic smoke over the Hills town.

Damage inside the Woolworths at Stirling. Picture: Supplied

Damage inside the Woolworths at Stirling which was destroyed by fire. Picture: Supplied

Later that night, two 14-year-olds from Heathfield and Bridgewater were charged with arson after the blaze caused more than $25 million damage, destroyed the Woolworths supermarket and caused significant damage to many other businesses.

They were bailed to appear in the Mount Barker Youth Court on December 14.

A Stirling Woolworths worker detailed the “terrifying” moment a column of flames shot up just metres from where she was working.

Woolworths Stirling employee Leela Cotton-Kenny at the scene of the Stirling Village Shopping centre fire. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Permanent part-time employee Leela Cotton Kenny was on the Sunday 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.