A 37-year-old man has been charged with arson over a fire that caused major damage to the building complex containing North Adelaide’s historic Oxford Hotel.
Crews were called to the blaze on O’Connell Street about 7am on Saturday after reports of smoke and flames coming from the building.
Investigators said the fire left an estimated damage bill of between $2 million and $3 million, after ripping through an accommodation facility behind the hotel.
The fire broke out in the complex on the corner of O’Connell and Tynte streets on Saturday morning. (Supplied: Lorenzo Krstic)
“Thankfully no one was injured in the fire. There was significant damage to the building,” police said.
The pub itself and the building’s facade were not impacted.
The suspect was arrested about 5:30pm on Saturday in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs, police said.
He has been charged with arson.
About 50 firefighters were called to the scene in North Adelaide. (ABC News: Shannon Pearce)
The man did not apply for police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
The Metropolitan Fire Service said the fire started on a second floor, and about 50 fire fighters were able to contain the blaze, protecting the pub.
Footage of the blaze captured from above street level shows flames, as well as smoke billowing from the building.