A suspicious fire has destroyed a home owned by a prominent South Australian racing family in Adelaide's northeast.
The North East Rd property, once home to late SA harness racing legend Dick Webster, went up flames at Klemzig just before 4am on Tuesday.
The Webster family still trains horses at the property, but the destroyed home was vacant.
More than 20 firefighters responded to the scene, but the two-storey home was already fully engulfed and the roof had collapsed. It took 45 minutes to extinguish the threat.
MFS Fire Cause investigator Marty Miller said the house would need to be demolished with a damage bill of about $300,000.
photo Ben Harvy
Flames (were) issuing through the roof space. (Crews) couldn't access the property because of the ferocity of the fire," he said.
The owners are in shock and disappointment. A property that's been in their family for many, many years has been attacked."
Luckily, two horses and stable facilities were unaffected during the fire.
Mr Miller said police are investigating a break-in at the home on Saturday when a Grandfather clock was stolen.
Eastern Adelaide CIB detectives inspected the site on Tuesday morning.
Neighbours said they were shocked and frightened to hear the house may have been deliberately targeted.
Police are appealing to anyone that may have seen any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area of North-East Road at Klemzig this morning between 3 and 4am, or any information on the recent break-in to please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online http://crimestopperssa.com.au
by Ben Harvey
Reprinted with permission from The Advertiser