Cherry Gardens fire contained by CFS; Residents return to Adelaide Hills homes

The CFS has contained the Cherry Gardens fire, though it will take some days to fully extinguish. Hills residents are returning home.

Residents who fled their homes ahead of the Adelaide Hills bushfire have returned to their properties as a suspected arsonist faced court.

Police arrested a self-employed Hallett Cove man on Sunday evening as he fled a deliberately lit fire 10km away from several other blazes that had started at Cherry Gardens.

Detectives on Monday examined the 60-year-old’s mobile phone to track his movements as steady rainfall helped quell a blaze which destroyed two houses, 17 outbuildings, two vehicles and almost 2700ha.

Cherry Gardens fire map.

Hundreds of firefighters – supported by aerial bombers – fought the fire in extreme heat and changing winds for 20 hours before steady rain and cooler temperatures arrived Monday afternoon. The massive operation succeeded in saving several towns and at least 60 houses that had been in the path of the blaze, which burnt most of the Scott Creek Conservation Park and Mount Bold Reservoir Reserve.

More than 400 firefighters left the fire zone as muddy conditions became too treacherous, leaving skeleton crew to monitor hot spots. While the fire was contained, it is expected to take several days before it is fully extinguished.

CFS volunteers Nick Svetec from Barmera, Hayllee Camplbell from Morgan CFS and Joel Trace from Barmera CFS celebrate the rain providing relief to the Cherry Gardens fire. Pictured outside the Bradbury Country Fire Service station. Picture: Tom Huntley

CFS incident controller Scott Turner said the rain had presented challenges for the firefighting effort as moisture made it difficult to backburn because of wet vegetation.

“The challenges for firefighters is now going to be bringing the fire up to containment lines,” he said. “Unfortunately, rain estimates won’t be enough to extinguish the fire.” Mr Turner said once the moisture dried, burning operations would start in the northern area of the fire zone to reduce the fuel load and potential for the fire to rekindle.

“The fire will continue to burn in Scott Creek and surrounding areas for four to five days,” he said.

Most road closures around the 38km perimeter of the fire were lifted on Monday night, enabling residents to return to their properties to inspect for damage. Hundreds of people evacuated from Echunga, Mylor, Longwood, Meadows, Heathfield, Bradbury, Macclesfield, Kangarilla, Chapel Hill, Jupiter Creek, Cherry Gardens, Mylor and Clarendon as the fire burnt out of control on Sunday night. They sought refuge at community halls, football ovals and with friends.

Mr Turner urged people to stay away from the fireground as roads were reopened.

“We remind the broader Adelaide and Adelaide Hills community that this is not a safe area to come sightseeing,” he said. “Please pay respect for those dealing with this fire.”

CFS trucks move through the Cherry Gardens fire at its peak. Picture: Salisbury Country Fire Service

Mr Turner said the CFS was working with PIRSA and animal welfare groups to determine stock losses but they appeared to be minimal.

The Department of Environment and Water was assessing damage to wildlife within the Scott Creek Conservation Park while SA Water had isolated Mount Bold Reservoir to protect water supplies. As the full extent of the fire’s impact was being calculated, CFS fire-cause experts were helping police determine if it was the result of arson.

“We’ve allowed Major Crime (detectives) to assist with the investigation team,” Mr Turner said. “With the two fires of concern at Clarendon and Cherry Gardens, there are seven ignition positions. There is exceptional frustration from the communities.”

Mr Turner addressed a community meeting at Echunga shortly before the Hallett Cove man faced the Christies Beach Magistrates Court charged with allegedly starting a bushfire, drink-driving and altering number plates.

He was arrested by police who chased him after he sped away in a silver Hyundai sedan from a newly lit fire beside Piggott Range Road, Clarendon, about 6pm on Sunday, while several fires burnt at nearby Cherry Gardens.

The man, who did not apply for bail, was remanded in custody for eight months while police analysed the GPS tracking data on his phone and obtained CCTV footage from traffic cameras, DNA, fingerprint and toxicology results.

Police appealed for anyone who saw any suspicious people or vehicles at Cherry Gardens, Dorset Vale and Clarendon between 3pm and 4.30pm on Sunday to contact Crime Stoppers.

The man’s identify and image was suppressed until a review hearing in March.