Woman, 72, speaks of fears after escaping suspicious house, boat fire in Loxton North

A family has been forced to flee their burning home overnight, as police and emergency services raced to battle a ‘suspicious’ blaze.

A woman says she feels “fortunate to have escaped” her burning home overnight, as authorities investigate a suspicious blaze in the Murraylands.

Emergency services were called to a property on Bookpurnong Rd in Loxton North at about 12.45am on Saturday.

A home and a boat have been damaged in a suspicious fire in the Murraylands overnight. Emergency services were called to a property on Bookpurnong Rd in Loxton North at about 12.45am on Saturday. Picture: Dasha Havrilenko

A home and a boat have been damaged in a suspicious fire in the Murraylands overnight. Emergency services were called to a property on Bookpurnong Rd in Loxton North at about 12.45am on Saturday. Picture: Dasha Havrilenko

On arrival, fire crews found a house, two trailers and a boat on fire. SA Police said the occupants managed to escape the home unharmed and fire crews extinguished the fire before it could spread to nearby properties.

One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said the fire caused her “no end of emotional distress” and she considers herself fortunate to have escaped the flames.

“I am a 72-year-old woman, I have serious health complications, I’m very slow,” she said. “Usually, to help suppress the pain I always take a sleeping pill before bed.

“Fortunately, last night, the pill hadn’t fully taken effect yet when I heard someone knocking on my door and loud noises coming from the carport.

“One of my neighbours had come to my rescue and he told me that there was a big fire right outside my home; he made sure that my dog and I were alright.”

After the woman escaped her home, she said she alerted emergency services to the fire.

“I called the police, the firies, my landlord,” she said.

“Everyone came quickly and helped us out the fire straightaway.”

However, the woman said she still feels very shaken by what has happened overnight.

Police are treating the fire as suspicious, and crime scene officers and detectives attended the property.

The investigation is continuing, but anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Woman, 72, speaks of fears after escaping suspicious house, boat fire in Loxton North