POLICE are investigating a suspicious blaze that gutted a Blakeview townhouse on Monday morning.
Just before midday, police and fire crews were called to Village Terrace after reports of a house on fire.
Tripe zero callers reported nearby residents attempted to put the fire out with garden hoses prior to the arrival of emergency services.
Fire crews believed the fire started on the ground floor of the two-storey townhouse, before spreading to a second floor balcony and awning.
An internal water pipe was also ruptured during the blaze, causing considerable water damage inside the property.
Metropolitan and Country Fire Service crews extinguished the blaze in 23 minutes, but not before it caused around $400,000 worth of smoke and water damage.
No-one was home at the time of the fire and surrounding homes were not damaged'
Police and fire cause investigators attended the scene throughout Monday, with the incident being treated as suspicious.
Neighbour Latisha Wilson said she was at home watching television and heard a large “bang” before she saw the blaze.
“I saw a flame and went outside and saw the whole neighbour’s house was on fire,” she said.
“It started engulfing everything, the whole balcony started going up in flames, it was very scary.
“I heard a big bang, so that’s what made me go have a look and I just saw all these flames, and within a minute it was all up in smoke.
“I thought there was a lady asleep in there, but apparently there was no-one in there and the lady’s safe.
“When I came outside there was already heaps of people outside, it was very full on.”
Another witness, Matt Armstrong, said he had stopped for lunch at a nearby shopping centre when he saw “dark” smoke coming from the townhouse.
“We rocked up and there was people running around, the deck and the entire house was on fire,” he said.
“There was a couple of guys trying to put it out with a hose at the start before the fire brigade rolled up.”
Police are urging anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area on Monday morning, or who has any information which may assist the investigation, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au