SA Country Fire Service

Media release

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BANGOR FIRE UPDATE

23/01/2014

The BANGOR fire continues to burn in the Southern Flinders Ranges.

Around 170 firefighters remain on the fire-ground and are continuing to construct control lines predominantly on the south-west corner of the fire, just south of the Bains track where the fire broke control lines overnight.

The fire is currently burning slowly through difficult terrain and is beginning to come out of the ranges downhill through to flatter cropping land.

Multiple farm fire units are supporting the CFS along the north eastern flank of the fire along Murray Town, the eastern flank around Wirrabara and the south-east along the Wirrabara Forest.

Fire behaviour has been erratic and challenging due to local wind conditions, and firefighters are currently managing to hold the fire at the Napperby pipeline, approximately 1.5 km away from Napperby.

CFS and NSW Rural Fire Service crews are actively patrolling the surrounding area of the Napperby Township.

The forward rate of spread has temporarily halted as the westerly wind change comes through. As the wind change sets in, the fire which has been travelling south-westerly will begin to travel in an easterly direction.

There is a risk that the fire will jump eastern control line near TV Track and Bluff Road and residents within the areas of Beetaloo Valley, Laura, Wirrabara and Stone Hut are urged to remain vigilant and monitor local conditions.

Smoke may still be covering parts of National Highway One, also known as the Augusta Highway, but due to the wind change it is likely that smoke will soon be visible in the areas of Laura and Wirrabara.

People with respiratory or cardiac conditions are advised to close doors and windows while the smoke is still present, and remain indoors if possible.

People should be enacting their Bushfire Survival Plan and know what to do if the situation changes.

A Watch and Act Message remains current for this fire.

For further information please contact the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline on 1300 362 361 or visit the CFS Website on www.cfs.sa.gov.au.

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Media information
For media enquiries call the CFS Media Line on 08 8115 3531.

Government of South Australia