$120,000 crop fire at Koolywurtie - 18 December 2022

At 5:03pm yesterday afternoon, CFS crews were called to a crop fire at a property in Koolywurtie, 20kms south of Maitland on the state’s Yorke Peninsula.

45 CFS volunteers on nine trucks, supported by eighty Farm Fire Units, and four aircraft bombers, worked quickly to extinguish the fire, which was caused by a build up of lentils in a header comb.

The fire caused 54 hectares of damage to the lentil crop, at an approximate value of $120,000. Fortunately, there was no damage caused to the header.

Crews remained on the scene for some time mopping up and extinguishing hotspots.

This comes as a timely reminder for all growers to be familiar with the South Australian Grain Harvesting Code of Practice, to maintain fire safety, ensuring they focus on service, maintenance, and machine hygiene.

2022-12-19
Gemma Chenoweth