CFS gains upper hand over bushfire at Mount Wedge on Eyre Peninsula

Smoke is drifting towards a number of Eyre Peninsula townships but firefighting conditions have improved, the Country Fire Service says.

The CFS said the fire was uncontrolled at about 7pm on Tuesday and affected this area around Mount Wedge.

Fire crews worked through the night to protect properties and slow the spread of a bushfire at Mount Wedge on the Eyre Peninsula.

The Country Fire Service downgraded its warning from Watch and Act to an Advice Message at 11.23pm Tuesday night, saying conditions had improved at the fireground with cooler temperatures and higher humidity overnight.

It warned smoke was continuing to be pushed by winds towards the townships of Minnipa, Kyancutta and Wudinna, and a smoke advice message is current for these areas.

The public is asked to stay clear of the scene, near the central west coast of Eyre Peninsula, with the firefighting effort expected to continue for days.

On Tuesday evening, the CFS warned the bushfire may threaten people’s safety and issued a Watch and Act alert for areas around Mount Wedge and Larne Drive.

“Take action now as this bushfire may threaten your safety. Prepare to leave. Check that the path is clear and go to a safer place. Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous,” the 6.49pm warning read.

At that stage the CFS described the fire as extremely erratic and hard to control with strong winds causing the fire to change directions regularly.

The alert applied to Mount Wedge, Larne Drive, Birdseye Highway, Rocky Valley Road and Kyancutta and Mount Wedge Road West.