Firefighters rush to control Hills bushfire
Murraylands residents were told to flee the area after a bushfire threatened the region on a sizzling 42-degree day.
The threat of a bushfire at Back Callington Road near Kanmantoo in the Murraylands of South Australia has been reduced after burning uncontrolled earlier this morning.
The Country Fire Service said people should still take care in the area, and downgraded the threat risk.
Earlier, the CFS issued evacuation orders for a large area southeast of Adelaide.
“The CFS have now contained the grass fire near Back Callington Road in Kanmantoo, South Australia,” the CFS said in a statement.
“Smoke will reduce visibility in the area and there is a risk of falling trees and branches.”
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Approximately 40 CFS firefighters were working on the fireground, supported by five aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft.
Firefighters were also being supported by SA Police, SA Ambulance Service and Department of Infrastructure and Transport.
“Aircraft performed approximately 20 drops across the side of the freeway which helped reducing the threat of this fire. The fire is now contained and firefighters will remain on the fireground until the area is deemed safe,” CFS said.
“The cause of the fire has been determined as not suspicious.”
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CFS is also responding to a fire along the Sturt Highway at Dutton East, which is about seven kilometres east of Truro in the mid north.
People in the area are being advised to stay informed and monitor local conditions.
Monitor the CFS website at cfs.sa.gov.au. or phone the information hotline on 1800 362 361.
It comes as southern Australia is sweltering through a heatwave, with total fire bans imposed across South Australia.
Severe heatwave warnings were issued across SA by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) through to Thursday, with temperatures on Wednesday expected to reach 42 degrees in Adelaide.
BOM meteorologist Dean Narramore said that on Wednesday, there would be a high fire danger in the Mount Lofty Ranges, the south-east and parts of the Eyre Peninsula due to hot, dry and windy conditions.
Extreme fire dangers are also likely on Friday for much of South Australia and Victoria ahead of a strong and gusty change on Friday night and into Saturday.
A Country Fire Service spokesperson said that “now is the time for all South Australians living, working, or travelling in bushfire risk areas to enact their Bushfire Survival Plans”.
“Our volunteers stand prepared and ready to respond, but we need the community to do their part to prepare, stay informed, and keep themselves and their loved ones safe,” she said.
The conditions nationally are set to be the worst since the catastrophic 2019-20 summer bushfires that killed more than 30 people and burned through millions of hectares.
