Wild weather across South Australia sparked 146 fires which have been contained
The warm conditions with dangerous lightning kept CFS crews busy overnight, who were called to 146 fires overnight. All fires have now been contained.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Wild weather fuelled by warm conditions, wind and lightning kept fire crews busy overnight, responding to 146 fires across the state.
All fires have now been contained, with the largest reported at Lake Gilles near Kimba, which burned through 95 hectares and was sparked about 3pm Tuesday.
The scrub fire was burning along Sectus Tanks Road in a southerly direction towards Middleback, Cowell and Kimba Roads.
Around 26 hectares burned in a Cummins fire on the Eyre Peninsula which broke out around 10am at a weed crop.
Watch and act alerts were issued across the Yorke Peninsula after lightning sparked a series of fires at around 8pm. Thousands of people were also left without power. At the peak of the storm, more than 32,000 homes were blacked out. This morning, about 7000 were still without power.
Crews have done a great job working overnight to restore power amid our spectacular storm. High winds and more than 300,000 lightning strikes up to 4am have had widespread impact and caused a large number of outages with a peak of more than 32,000 without power.
— SA Power Networks (@SAPowerNetworks) November 10, 2020
Residents in the areas around Minlaton, Edithburgh, Cabowie, Yorketown, Stansbury, Wool Bay, Port Moorowie in the Southern Yorke Peninsula were told to leave immediately if not prepared and the path was clear, or to seek a safer place.
“The fires are currently uncontrolled. These fires are burning in a South Westerly direction towards Yorketown, Edithburgh and Port Moorowie. These fires can possibly impact properties in the area,” the CFS said just before 8pm on Tuesday.
“Conditions are continually changing.
“If you are in the Southern Yorke Peninsular you are advised to activate your Bushfire Survival Plan and take appropriate action immediately.”
Crews continue to monitor hot spots at Barunga Gap Road at Bute, and O’Connell Ave Hindmarsh Island.
Severe weather warnings were also issued as thunderstorms approached Adelaide.
People in the Onkaparinga, Yankalilla, Victor Harbor, Mount Barker, Adelaide Hills, Gawler, Adelaide, Western Alexandrina, Playford and parts of Barossa council areas were told to brace for damaging winds.
#Bushfire Watch and Act for #MINLATON,_YACCA_RD/ROBERTS_HWY_ #fire. Take action now as this bushfire may threaten your safety. If you are not prepared, leave now and if the path is clear, go to a safer place. #WAM ID=0004937 #SAFires https://t.co/md173i51V0 pic.twitter.com/16hWLLMO1F
— CFS Talk (@CFSTalk) November 10, 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Adelaide Region for DAMAGING WINDS
— Country Fire Service (@CFSAlerts) November 10, 2020
Issued at 8:42 pm Tues 10 Nov 20
Next warning is due by 9:45 pm. refer https://t.co/c5uHYkY7Cv pic.twitter.com/8ezJ58mqDB
The CFS warned that nobody should enter the area.
Throughout Tuesday, crews responded to multiple grass fires – one on the Southern Expressway at Lonsdale, in Robe and across the Eyre Peninsula.
Earlier in the day, crews contained the fires at Lonsdale, Cummins and Ninnes near Snowtown.
The CFS responded to multiple fires on the Eyre Peninsula, including blazes at Miltalie, Cowell, Yeelanna and Lake Gilles.
Closer to the city, crews contained a truck fire on Grand Junction Road at Wingfield, and a burning tree in Charleston and Stirling North.
Spot grass fires at Nalyappa and Mingbool outside Mount Gambier were also controlled.
As the state’s emergency control centre was opened for the first time this fire season, swathes of the state was warned of fire risk amid very hot temperatures – 10-15C above average – strong winds and dry lightning storms.
An extreme bushfire danger warning was placed on the Yorke Peninsula from midnight Tuesday while severe bans were imposed on the Northwest Pastoral, West Coast as well as the Eastern and Lower Eyre Peninsula areas, which all face “very hazardous fire weather conditions”.
“The severe conditions, if a fire starts and takes hold, will be difficult for our firefighters to tackle,” CFS chief officer Mark Jones warned.
“This is the first significant fire alert. We are concerned that ahead of the change that some dry lightning is forecast. If it comes through as dry lightning then there is a chance for fires to start.
“We are hoping with the change coming quickly, it gives us a chance to tackle any fires.” He also issued a dust storm warning that will create driving and breathing hazards. He said there was more grass loads.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To say thank you, The Advertiser and Sunday Mail, with sponsor Statewide Super, are providing each CFS, SES, SA Ambulance and St. John’s volunteers with a 12-month digital subscription to Advertiser.com.au. Visit advertiser.com.au/competitions for more information.