Adelaide CBD fire: Large blaze behind Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hindley St
POLICE have taken over the investigation into the large fire that brought the Adelaide central business district to a standstill.
The MFS has confirmed it has handed responsibility for the inquiry to police, with the fire now being treated as suspicious.
The move came fire investigators worked throughout the night to find the cause of the fire, which destroyed a derelict building near Hindley St on Tuesday afternoon.
MFS assistant chief fire officer Glenn Benham said earlier today that if criminal activity was involved police would take the lead on the investigation.
“If the cause is believed to be arson, so a crime, police will take the lead on the investigation and we’ll support. If it’s found to be accidental or otherwise our investigator will take the lead and then SAPOL will provide support,” he said.
The huge blaze started in the basement of Grandmaster Leong’s Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy off Hindley St at 12.13pm on Tuesday and quickly spread through the building, sending large, acrid smoke plumes throughout the CBD.
Numerous businesses on Leigh St, Peel St and Hindley St were closed as 20 appliances and 85 firefighters fought the blaze in buildings on Schrader St, a narrow lane behind Hindley St’s Grand Chancellor Hotel.
Four people, including a police officer, were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. A fifth was treated at the scene.
Engineers from Adelaide City Council and the Polites property group have inspected the building but are waiting for information from emergency services before they determine what happens next.
A statement from the Adelaide City Council said it did not have any knowledge of squatters in the building or in the laneway behind the building, as reported by some media outlets.
The private property was secured by a gate and inaccessible to the general public.
Although buildings on Hindley St remain structurally sound, Afghan Charcoal Kebab House owners Mohammad and Maryam Ahmad said they had “lost everything”.
“All our workers now, they don’t have a job as well,” Ms Ahmad said.
“So we and them will lose the lot — there’s no income, no work, nothing.
“We don’t know how long it is going to take.”
Hindley Street Express Supermarket owner Marilyn Tabbernal said she was waiting for her insurance company to assess the water damage to her property.
Traders not directly affected by the fire have reopened for business.
Some businesses remain closed and police cordons are still in place.
Wing Chun Kung Fu owner Cheok Leong told The Advertiser he was parking his car when the blaze started.
He was not allowed through the cordon and did not know if his business of 30 years would survive. “I think it’s gone. It’s an old building,” he said.
“I believe my business is on fire. I have been working there over 30 years. It becomes your second home.”
Mr Leong rents the building but said his contents — including a Muay Thai boxing ring, more than 10 bags and five dummies — were not insured. “I just have to cop it. What can I do?” he said. Buildings and streets near the fire were evacuated, but fears that the smoke contained potentially dangerous asbestos were allayed.
The roof of an adjacent Polites building buckled from heat, fire damage and the pressure of water sprayed on the flames, which leapt metres into the air. Firefighters leaned from windows at the Grand Chancellor Hotel to fight the blaze, before moving on to the hotel’s balconies.
The fire also caused traffic delays on the northern side of the CBD. MFS assistant chief fire officer Roy Thompson said triple-0 calls began flooding in from 12.13pm.
“I believe it probably started inside the building, but it spread very quickly through the building outside, then towards Hindley St,” he said.
Police closed off Hindley St at King William, Morphett, Leigh and Currie streets. Country Fire Service volunteers were called in to assist.
One man who worked in a nearby hotel said the building involved in the fire is known to sublet rooms.
“They rent out about five to seven rooms,” he said.
“They live in there. They are mostly homeless people. The third storey of the building is condemned, so I don’t think anyone was up there. I was worried because a guy we all know was staying there and no one has seen him today.”
Firefighters quickly confirmed there was no one inside.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and anyone with information that might assist is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online atsa.crimestoppers.com.au.
Source: Adelaide Now / The Advertiser, , 2nd September 2015
Originally published as: Adelaide CBD fire: Large blaze behind Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hindley St
