Concert-goers and hotel patrons were evacuated from Adelaide’s Crown & Anchor on Friday night, after an individual reportedly set fire to a section of the venue mid-gig.
Melbourne’s Five Mile Town were set to perform on the night alongside two Adelaide locals, blues rock band SuperCaine and indie rockers Valkyries, before security were forced to end the show and immediately evacuate the venue.
Supercaine’s Alex Upton told theMusic.com.au, “The security run across the back of the room to the sound guy, told everyone to evacuate. We were mid set when the fire alarm went off, as we were evacuating you could see licks of flame in the front foyer.”
Valkyries kept their fans updated via Facebook and Twitter, praising venue staff for their quick-thinking and professionalism in handling the situation. They also claimed that the incident may have been a murder-suicide attempt.
Unconfirmed reports suggest a male tried to start a fire in the venue, using some kind of flammable substance, before being taken away in an ambulance. South Australian Police were seen questioning hotel patrons following the incident, and have confirmed to theMusic that an individual sustained minor injuries during the incident and has been taken to hospital.
A representative from The Crown & Anchor Hotel told theMusic that there were no other injuries during the incident, no major structural damage to the venue and that it will be “business as usual” from midday Saturday.
Tom ‘Wolfpack’, singer and drummer of Melbourne punk band Wolfpack, has taken to Facebook to detail the extent of the building’s damage. “I just got off the phone with the venue… Only minor damage to the front foyer.”
Fire at the Cranka pic.twitter.com/omxVSbZotq
— VALKYRIES (@VALKYRIESBAND) March 21, 2014
Guy tried to kill everyone and himself #adelaide #fire #mentalhealth
— VALKYRIES (@VALKYRIESBAND) March 21, 2014
Big shout out to the staff at The Cranka for dealing with the fire in lightening speeds #thecranka #fire #adelaide
— VALKYRIES (@VALKYRIESBAND) March 21, 2014
