Investigation launched into suspicious blaze at Stonyfell business in Adelaide’s east

Police have launched an investigation into a suspicious fire at an eastern suburbs smokes store. It comes as a Flinders Park business was targeted two days in a row.

Police have launched an investigation into a suspicious fire at a controversial eastern suburbs tobacco shop, which has sparked numerous complaints from residents.

Emergency services were called to Stonyfell Smoke, a tobacco store on Hallett Rd at Stonyfell, after reports of a fire in the backyard about 3am on Sunday.

After igniting, the blaze travelled to the rear entrance of the building.

Metropolitan Fire Service crews quickly extinguished the fire and the building only suffered minor damage.

Police are investigating a suspicious fire at this business in Stonyfell. Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

The business has previously been embroiled in a separate controversy, with SA Health authorities last year investigating whether or not the tobacco shop was licensed.

Opposition police spokesman and Member for Bragg Jack Batty said hundreds of constituents have approached him with concerns about the business since it opened on Hallett Rd last year.

Mr Batty said he in turn raised concerns with the government, including around the shop’s proximity to schools, compliance with relevant advertising standards and appropriate licensing, but has only been told the matter has been referred to the relevant authorities.

“Now, we’re seeing fire bombings in Stonyfell, which is just really concerning to the local community,” he said.

“What we saw yesterday was from the government, sort of doing a bit of a victory lap on illegal tobacco. I thought that was weird because the problem has never been worse.

“We’ve got a situation now, where if there’s smokes there’s fires. The enforcement efforts from the government appear to have hardly scratched the surface.”

The Stonyfell shop is the latest tobacco store to be caught up in a blaze.

Local resident Cathy Kerry was among those who lodged complaints with the local council and Mr Batty about the store.

She said she was worried “because of people that were coming around”. She added that she had also seen children going into the shop.

Ms Kerry said she was horrified to learn about the incident, which happened just hours after she and her friends celebrated a birthday at a pizza shop next door.

“It’s very scary,” she said.

She hoped the authorities would now take action.

“The government has to really pull themselves together and save some children and save some people and close them,” she said.“

Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Andrea Michaels would not comment on the findings of SA Health investigation but said evidence and intelligence from the probe has been shared with other authorities “including our illicit tobacco taskforce and the AFP”.

Just after 3am on Sunday, police and emergency services were called to a fire in the rear yard of the business premises. Picture: Natalie Vikhrov

“We also have new powers that would enable the Minister to shut these businesses down before Parliament along with significantly higher penalties,” she said.

“The Malinauskas Government is committed to tackling the illicit tobacco trade and has invested $16 million into a dedicated CBS taskforce that is working with SAPOL and other law enforcement agencies to stop these criminals.”

Crime scene investigators attended the scene at Stonefell on Sunday morning.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area at the time to come forward.

It comes as police are investigating a second arson attack on a Flinders Park real estate agency in two days.

Police and fire crews were called to Grange Rd after reports of an alarm activation at the Flinders Park LJ Hooker branch on Sunday about 6.45am.

No entry was gained to the property, however an accelerant was poured through an open window and a fire took hold.

Minimal damage was caused to the building.

Crime scene officers will attend the scene.

On Saturday about 4.15am emergency services were called to the same business after reports of smoke billowing out of a building.

Fire crews attended the scene and extinguished the fire which caused minor damage to furniture.

CCTV footage revealed two men kicked in the front door to the business and then poured liquid around the office before igniting it.

The footage then showed both the men leaving the property to head west along Grange Rd.

Western District police are appealing for anyone with information on the attacks to come

forward.

Originally published as Investigation launched into suspicious blaze at Stonyfell business in Adelaide’s east