Rehab centre for horses and defence veterans left devastated after inferno at Monarto

A rehabilitation centre for horses and military veterans has been devastated by fire at a rural property near Murray Bridge.

A fire has devastated an animal and defence veteran rehabilitation centre on a rural property in the state’s Murraylands region, leaving the owners scrambling to rebuild.

The Lincoln Park Horse and Human Rehabilitation Centre at Monarto, which was established more than a decade ago to help defence veterans and horses in need, was engulfed in flames on Sunday afternoon.

Just before 5pm on Sunday, emergency services including Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers were called to the property, where a fire ripped through the property’s main house, causing an estimated $300,000 damage.

Fire has gutted a home at the Lincoln Park Horse and Human Rehabilitation Centre at Monarto. Picture: 7NEWS

Residents and owners of the business, Sonia and Lincoln Little spoke to 7News Adelaide and said they were picking their son up from the airport when they received news that their home had been engulfed in flames.

Ms Little broke down in tears as she described what she and her husband lost in the fire, and said she had devoted her entire life to the centre.

“My memories, my photos, (the fire) pretty much took everything,” she said.

“I have devoted my whole life to this place.

Mr Little, also devastated following the fire, said rebuilding what was lost would be difficult.

“Pretty gut-wrenching to build what we’ve built here and for it all to go up in smoke as you say,” he said.

The Lincoln Park Horse and Human Rehabilitation Centre was established to help defence veterans and horses in need. Picture: 7NEWS

The fire has caused an estimated $300,000 damage. Picture: 7NEWS

“It’s gonna be tough to come back from.”

The property which spans across 140 acres is a temporary refuge for unwanted farm animals including horses, donkey’s, alpaca’s and pig’s.

None of the animals were injured in the fire.

As a result of the fire, the husband and wife said they will move into a caravan with their children while they attempt to rebuild their home.

A spokesperson for the CFS said crew’s were able to respond to the fire quickly saving two caravans next to the home.

“Volunteer firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using positive-pressure fans to ventilate the structure.”

Twenty-five CFS firefighters in 6 trucks responded, working alongside the Metropolitan Fire Service, SA Police, SA Power Networks, and SA Ambulance Service.

Crews remained on site after the fire was contained, with Fire Investigators also called to the scene.

Originally published as Rehab centre for horses and defence veterans left devastated after inferno at Monarto