Adelaide vet clinic destroyed in suspected arson attack at Hilton

An Adelaide vet clinic has been obliterated in a suspected arson attack overnight, with two men spotted running away from the scene.

An Adelaide vet clinic has been totally destroyed in a suspected arson attack overnight, with two men still on the run.

At 2.40am on Thursday, the Metropolitan Fire Service responded to a fire at the Pets Health Hilton Vet Centre on Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Hilton.

Six appliances and 22 firefighters battled the blaze which tore through the clinic and caused $150,000 worth of damage.

No animals were there overnight, but tearful clinic owner Julie Munchenberg told FIVEaa her business had been “destroyed”.

“From what I understand someone has deliberately thrown a brick through our front window and some accelerant and completely destroyed our business,” she said.

“It’s horrendous and I have no idea why.”

She said she understood there was a witness to what happened.

“I think that there was someone who saw the whole thing … and I really hope that whoever it is gets caught … it’s just a ridiculous thing to do.“

A suspected arson attack has totally destroyed a vet clinic at Hilton. Picture: George Yankovich

Police confirmed two men were spotted running away from the scene and the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Jordi Shearer, 28, is a vet nurse at the clinic and spent the morning clearing through debris with Ms Munchenberg and another colleague.

She called the alleged arsonists “absolutely disgusting” and labelled their crime “a senseless act of violence”.

“I got the phone call this morning and it’s been tears all around,” Ms Shearer said.

“I never thought something like this would happen here.

“I have no idea why they did it, especially a vet clinic.

“We’re here to serve the community, and it’s such a tough time for vets and small businesses for this to happen.”

Luckily, no animals were on the premises at the time. Picture: RoyVphotography

Ms Shearer said animals are sometimes kept overnight and it was “a stroke of luck” that the clinic was unoccupied.

She said it was still too early to tell when it would re-open.

Another vet nurse, Dora Williams, 27, said her team would try to serve clients at their O’Halloran Hill site.

“A lot of animals get distressed in cars, especially on hot days and situations like that, so it will be a struggle for those clients to get them there,” Ms Williams said.

“But for those who can, we’ll be there to support those clients wherever they need.”

Ms Williams said they were still determining what could be salvaged, but some veterinary equipment in the building was valued in the thousands.

The damage bill is estimated to be around $150,000. Picture: RoyVphotography

Audika hearing clinic next door was forced to close due to smoke damage and power outages, which are expected to continue until Thursday.

Snap printing services and Eclipse Yoga, in the same plaza, were also forced to close.

Nearby residents reported other suspicious behaviour on the night of the attack.

It is understood that a car was broken into near the T-junction of Clarence St and Liley St a few hours before the attack.

A detective on the scene said it was unknown if the two events were connected.

Liley St resident Michelle Meers, 56, told police that she saw a man fully covered in a dark outfit loitering at the end of the street.

“Being so hot last night, I don’t get why you would have a beanie on your head,” Mrs Meers said.

“I don’t know if it was linked at all, but it was just suspicious.”

Mrs Meers said she took her dog and cat to the clinic, as did many others in the neighbourhood, and the fire had been met with “total disbelief” by locals.

“We’re probably going to get security cameras after this because it’s just so scary,” she said.

Detectives also examined a small blood stain in front of Ms Meers’ driveway, which she said had not been there a day earlier.

SA Police said they are still investigating and all lines of inquiry are being examined.

Car detailer Kane Sherlock, 21, works at a car wash across the road from the vet and lives less than 200m from the clinic.

“It’s the fact that it was a vet that’s shocking,” Mr Sherlock said.

“The fact there could have been animals there is even worse … I just don’t get why somebody would do it.”

Originally published as Adelaide vet clinic destroyed in suspected arson attack at Hilton