Port Adelaide star Brandon Zerk-Thatcher runs for his life as 2am ‘fireball’ destroys neighbour’s home

Port Adelaide defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and his girlfriend have been forced to “run for their lives” after a suspicious fire near their home.

Police and fire crews were called to Brighton Rd in Glenelg East just after 2am on Thursday morning following initial reports of a car on fire.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher forced to flee after huge inferno.

The fire then spread to a nearby house, causing significant damage.

Zerk-Thatcher was in a neighbouring house when he was awoken by his partner.

They quickly grabbed their two kittens and fled their house to a safe area.

“I got woken up to my partner waking me up, there were a few loud bangs, she said there was a fire ... looked out the window and sure enough the neighbour’s car was on fire,” he said.

“It was pretty quick, by the time we opened the door it just got to our house so we got our cats and ran out of there. Was lucky we got out, we just watched from across the road hoping the fire brigade would get here.

“Was actually good timing, otherwise our side would have got chopped up a bit more.

“When my partner woke me up it was the first thing she said, ‘grab the cats’.

“Everyone got out, which was the main thing.

“It was pretty scary, definitely makes you question if it’s safe to live here ... there was a jerrycan left here so I daresay it was a bit suspicious.

“You don’t expect anything like that to happen.”

7NEWS Adelaide reporter Peter Caldicott had earlier said the car was a “total fireball” when emergency crews arrived.

“The flames were spreading up into the townhouse where it (the car) was parked and completely destroyed it,” Caldicott said on ABC Radio.

“Him and his girlfriend were just very, very lucky to get out safely, they grabbed their two cats Pickles and Olive … and ran for their lives.”

Police said they are treating the fire as suspicious.

“On arrival, patrols found the Audi sedan was fully alight with the fire having spread to a nearby home,” SA Police said in a statement.

“Firefighters worked quickly to bring the fire under control however the car was destroyed, and extensive damage was caused to the house. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident.

“Crime Scene Investigators attended the scene to conduct an examination and Western District detectives will continue enquiries today.

“The fire is being treated as suspicious after witnesses reported seeing people running from the scene shortly after the fire started.”