Arson suspected as man charged over northern suburbs house fire

A distraught mum-of-four had to be held back by neighbours as she watched her home burning, neighbours say. A 38-year-old man is facing arson charges over the alleged attack.

The scene outside the Elizabeth Vale home after the fire around 1am Thursday. Picture 7NEWS

A man has been charged over after an Elizabeth Vale home erupted in flames overnight.

Just before 1am on Thursday, January 11, fire crews were called to Plaitford St after black smoke was reported coming out of a home.

An MFS spokesman said firefighters quickly extinguished the fire before it could spread to adjoining and nearby properties.

The MFS said 18 firefighters from three appliances attended the semi-detached residential property and that no one was injured.

Police say they believe the fire was deliberately lit and investigators have gone to the scene to determine the cause.

A fire that ripped through a family home on Thursday morning is being treated as suspicious. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

Man charged over Elizabeth Vale ‘arson’

A man was arrested over the incident near Mount Gambier about 9.15am this morning.

The 38-year-old Elizabeth Vale man was being questioned by police and later charged with arson and property damage.

He is scheduled to appear at the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Friday, January 12.

A woman living across the road from the home, 45-year-old Cynthia, said the home’s owner and her four young children, including a six-month-old baby, were “thankfully” not home at the time, as she feared the worst.

Neighbour Cynthia, 45 from Elizabeth Vale, said she was disheartened that the home’s owner, and her four children, were left with nothing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

But now she is concerned the family has nothing left.

“I just wish there was something we could do, they have no clothes or toys or anything for those kids now,” Cynthia said.

“It’s disheartening.”

Ashley Garnaut, who lives a few houses down from the property, said he came out of his home as emergency services lined the street.

He said the home’s owner screamed at the sight of her home of six years burning.

“She started screaming as they held her back,” Mr Garnaut said.

A police investigation is under way. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

“My son said ‘I hope it isn’t the girls because one is in my class’, he had a tear in his eye.”

“They’re friendly people,” the 45-year-old said.

“I’ve lived here for about a year and you never see anything like this happen here.

“It’s a good area, well, until last night.”

It comes after four separate house fires caused extensive damage to properties earlier this week, with a woman taken to hospital as her pet was rescued from a burning home.

Anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious in the street is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.