Fire destroys agricultural research labs, leaving $2 million bill, but historic home survives

An agricultural research centre that houses laboratories in South Australia’s south-east has been destroyed by a fire that has left an estimated damage bill of more than $2 million. 

The Country Fire Service (CFS) said firefighters were called to the blaze at the Struan Research Centre, south of Naracoorte and near the Naracoorte caves, just before 1am and found it engulfed in flames.

Police had initially attended the site in response to an alarm, and saw smoke and flames coming from a building. 

Seven CFS crews and 30 volunteers battled the inferno, stopping it from spreading to the nearby historic Struan House, which dates back to 1875.

But the research centre itself, which is run by the state government’s South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) for crop and livestock studies, could not be saved.

“Unfortunately, the fire caused the ceiling of the structure to collapse and ultimately caused in excess of $2 million damage to the research centre,” the CFS said.

“Crews ensured that the historic Struan House was totally unaffected by the fire.”

The property runs along the Riddoch Highway, and the cause of the fire is unknown, with investigations complicated by the presence of hundreds of litres of formaldehyde.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, and said fire cause investigators from Adelaide would examine the scene.

The CFS said HazMat crews would determine when the site was safe for that to occur.

SARDI falls under the authority of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), which said it was still assessing the “overall impacts to operations”.

“The building housed inventory for the property along with research and electrical equipment,” PIRSA said in a statement.

“PIRSA is thankful no-one was injured and that CFS crews were able to respond as quickly as they did to prevent the fire spreading to other buildings on the property.

“PIRSA will work closely with investigators to assist them to determine the cause.”