Two boys charged after massive blaze destroys Woolworths in Stirling
Watch as two 14-year-old local boys are arrested for arson after a huge blaze swept through a Hills supermarket on Sunday, causing shoppers to flee for their lives.
Police & Courts
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Two teenage boys have been charged after a blaze swept through the Stirling Village on Sunday, causing shoppers to flee for their lives and sent a plume of toxic smoke over the Hills town.
On Sunday, the 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.
SA Police said they were bailed to appear in the Mount Barker Youth Court on December 14.
Fire cause investigators will return to the scene Monday.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze after crews were called to Woolworths at the Stirling Village shopping centre about 2.15pm on Sunday, following reports a fire ignited in the aisles.
The centre was evacuated with bystanders reporting explosions, along with large black billowing plumes of smoke.
Executive director of operations at the Country Fire Service Cameron Devey said the CFS would work alongside the MFS into the night to ensure the blaze is extinguished.
Mr Devey said the blaze was contained to the Woolworths, but predicted there would be water and smoke damage to the rest of the shopping complex.
“We’re really, really keen on stressing that our firefighters here tonight have done a great job,” he said.
“They have saved the adjoining businesses and shops.”
Various stores, including Angelakis Bros., Bakers Delight, Cibo, Green Dispensary, Stirling Variety Meats, Stockpot and Sushi Delight are located within Stirling Village.
Power was cut to the town centre as crews continued to work.
“We aware of the disruption that it may cause but it’s necessary as part of the process of putting the fire out,” Mr Devey said.
Mr Devey said he was aware of the impact the fire would have on the local community.
“There were people obviously looking to attend work tomorrow and they won’t be able to do so.”
About 20 CFS and MFS crews – a total of about 100 firefighters – attended the scene to bring the fire under control.
Toxic smoke blanketed the entire town of Stirling, with the main street closed off and barely visible.
The fire is understood to have started within Woolworths and spread down the aisles.
A large crowd of more than 100 people gathered to watch the incident unfold.
“I’ve never seen Stirling like this before,” said one witness.
Another witness described the scene as a “doomsday scenario”, with flames visible from within the shopping centre.
Hills resident Kate said she was in the Stirling Library – located across the road from the blaze – when it was evacuated.
“At first I thought it was fog but as soon as we walked outside the thick smoke hit me, it went right to the back of my lungs,” she said.
“There was an old lady nearby that became disoriented by all the smoke. She couldn’t really walk so I had to help her get away from the smoke, it was so dense and thick.”
Another Stirling resident, Gemma, said her car was trapped in the shopping centre carpark.
“The whole area is blocked off,” she said.
“I’ve never seen anything like this.
“I hope everyone is all right and my car is not damaged too badly.”
The Country Fire Service issued an advice message just before 3.30pm on Sunday recommending nearby residents to close their doors and windows and remain inside.
“The incident is generating a large amount of smoke drifting in an easterly direction, impacting on Mount Barker Rd and surrounding streets,” the message said.
Smoke and flames issuing the full extent of the #stirling mall after fire erupted in @woolworths explosions continuing from aerosols @CFSAlerts pushing bystanders back pic.twitter.com/lJaZ7KOl2B
— Brenton Scroop (@brentonscroop) October 15, 2023
A Woolworths spokesperson told the Advertiser all customers and staff were safely evacuated from the store.
“We would like to express our thanks to the emergency services who are on the scene,” he said.
David Holliday, a team member at Stirling Woolworths for four years, said he initially tried to turn the fire alarm off thinking it had been set off by accident.
“I tried to turn it off thinking nothing was happening,” he said.
“But the front staff were screaming ‘this is not a drill, we have to leave now.”
Mr Holliday said the fire started in one of the aisles of the supermarket but had only heard speculation as to its cause.
“There was a big fire down one of the aisles,” he said.
“I was making sure everyone was out and accounted for.”
The 28-year-old worker said he never expected this to happen on what would usually be a normal Sunday afternoon shift.
“I would not expect it (the fire) at all,” he said.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Mr Holliday said he felt “a bit sad” to see the store, and surrounding centre, go up in flames.
“I feel a bit sad because I’ve been working there so long,” he said.
“It’s going to take a few years to get back to what it was.”
Mr Holliday said he and his co-workers had been told they would be moved to other stores.
A Woolworths employee, who asked not to be named, said staff did an “amazing job” evacuating shoppers from the store.
“It took hold so quick, it was really scary,” she said.
“The staff did an amazing job evacuating everyone from the store.
“People could have been in serious trouble if they didn’t act sooner.”
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