Issued on
02 Feb 2026 17:14
Katarapko Island Fire
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS), Department for Environment and Water, and the SA Metropolitan Fire Service have spent the last 5 days working to contain multiple fires burning on Katarapko Island, approximately 11km south-west of Berri in the Riverland.
Since the fires began on Thursday 29 January, crews - supported by an Incident Management Team - have maintained continuous operations in challenging, hard-to-access terrain. The fire burnt approximately 293 hectares and crews have done outstanding work under difficult conditions, with the fire now declared contained.
Aircraft, including fire bombers and observational aircraft, have played a vital role in limiting fire spread and identifying hotspots. The use of aircraft was especially important given the limited ground access on the island. Crews will continue to patrol the fire and extinguish remaining hotspots over the next 5 days.
SA Police, the SA State Emergency Service, and SA Water have provided valuable assistance throughout the incident, including support with access to the island.
There is currently no threat to the community however smoke may be visible in surrounding areas for some time. While emergency services remain working in the area, houseboats and recreational watercraft are asked to avoid the area to help keep everyone safe and allow emergency crews to work without interruption. Fire-affected trees are present and there is a risk of large tree limbs dropping over the coming weeks.
Access to the Murray River National Park-Katarapko Section remains closed for public safety. Visitors should check parks.sa.gov.au/know-before-you-go/closures-and-alerts/murray-river-national-park-katarapko-section for the latest information on closures and restrictions.
If you need to travel in the area, please take care and be aware of local conditions. People in the area are encouraged to stay informed at cfs.sa.gov.au.
The cause of the fire has been investigated and is now with SA Police.
This is expected to be the final update for this fire. Thank you to all personnel and partner agencies for their dedication and hard work throughout this response.
Message ID 0009163
