Couple living in caravan near underpass lose everything in arson attack near Gawler

A couple forced to live in a caravan near a freeway overpass have lost everything after their home was set alight in an arson attack.

A couple forced to live in a caravan near an overpass are homeless and have lost everything after they became victims of a suspected arson attack overnight.

Craig Smith and Rebecca Thomas were inside their caravan on Tuesday night when they heard something land on the roof, before exiting to find their makeshift home on fire.

It was about 8.30pm on when police and emergency services were called to battle the blaze, which has cost the couple the roof over their head and all their belongings.

Craig Smith and Rebecca Thomas lost all their belongings when their caravan was set on fire. Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

The remains of the caravan after it was set ablaze. Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

Early this month, the couple’s caravan set-up near an underpass on Ward Belt Rd drew complaints by some nearby residents who said they were fed up with the state of the campsite.

7NEWS reported residents said “the smell of faeces and urine was unbearable”.

Now, the couple have become the victims of an apparent arson attack and Mr Smith said he believed three teens had targeted his home with a molotov cocktail.

The couple’s attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful and MFS arrived to tackle the blaze but not before the caravan was completely destroyed.

There were no reports of injuries.

7NEWS reported residents said “the smell of faeces and urine was unbearable”. Picture: 7NEWS

Crime scene officers attended the scene to determine the cause of the fire while police were on scene on Wednesday morning for further investigations.

Gawler Mayor Karen Redman was quick to condemn the arson attack.

“It’s somebody’s home … it’s just not good enough to light a fire and have an arson attack,” she said on ABC radio on Wednesday morning.

Ms Redman said while the fire was on the Light Regional Council side of a nearby local government area border, the arson actions did not reflect the attitudes of ratepayers in the area.

“I think our ratepayers are very in tune with our homeless people … we have a caring and compassionate response to our homeless people,” she said.

Ms Redman said the council had been proactive in working with agencies such as the Salvation Army, Rotary and SA Police to support homeless people in the area.

“We had 15 homeless (in the area) and we moved some into housing and some of them got full time jobs,” she said.

Originally published as Couple living in caravan near underpass lose everything in arson attack near Gawler