Overnight Fire Update Saturday 18 January 2014
18/01/2014
Firefighters from the CFS, Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and Forestry SA are continuing to work on 18 fires that have continued to burn overnight.
Four fires are currently listed as Watch and Act;
The Bangor fire in the Southern Flinders Ranges has had a reduction in fire behaviour overnight, this fire is continuing to burn in a northerly direction towards Wirrabara, Murraytown and Melrose townships. The fire which is burning in scrub land has burnt more than 22 000 hectares and currently has over 100 firefighters working overnight. Despite the best efforts of firefighters there have been three homes, three other structures and multiple stock lost.
The Billiatt Conservation Park fire near Alawoona in the Murraylands is currently travelling in a northerly direction towards Alawoona. The fire which is burning in scrub has burnt through more than 15 000 hectares, unfortunately two homes were lost at the "Last Resort" property.
The Eden Valley fire in the Southern Barossa Valley has seen a reduction in fire behaviour resulting in the threat of the fire reducing. The fire which has burnt through more than 27 000 hectares of grassland is still travelling in a northerly direction towards Truro, Keyneton, Graetztown, Towitta, Moculta, Eden Valley, Sanderson and Anguston. Although the fire threat has reduced those in the area need to remain aware of local conditions and monitor the situation. Despite the best efforts of crews a number of homes have been lost in the fire. SA Metropolitan Fire Service firefighters have been assisting with asset protection.
The complex of fires in the Riverland at Calperum near Cooltong and Renmark West is still un controlled and has burnt more than 38 000 hectares of scrublands. The fire is travelling in a Northerly direction towards Wentworth Road. Firefighters continue to work on asset protection.
Over the last 24 hours more than 2000 personnel including 1750 firefighters and over 200 incident management personnel have been working at rural incidents across the state which have burnt in excess of 300 000 hectares of grass, scrub and bushland.
The CFS has also been supported by a number of interstate Incident Management personnel from New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) and another four strike teams of firefighters and appliances are responding from NSWRFS, two strike teams from the Victorian Country Fire Authority (CFA) and an Incident Management team from Western Australia.
Although fire and weather conditions have eased across the state CFS is still asking the community to remain vigilant and monitor current fire conditions.
Firebombing aircraft will continue to be used across the state including the addition five resources sourced from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
For further information please visit the CFS website www.cfs.sa.gov.au or call the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline on 1300 362 361.