Crazy South Australia weather: Grass fires fanned by up to 100km/h wind gust ahead of cool change

DOZENS of fires fanned by strong winds tested crews and threatened properties across the state on Sunday during the first serious event ahead of the fire danger season.

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DOZENS of fires fanned by strong winds tested crews and threatened properties across the state on Sunday during the first serious event ahead of the fire danger season.

Nearly 200 firefighters, supported by aerial bombers, tackled a blaze at Worlds End near Burra, in the state’s Mid North, which had threatened properties as it burnt through at 232ha before it was contained.

Another fire, fuelled by wind gusts of up to 89km/h, jumped containment lines and tore through 4ha of a pine plantation in the Mt Crawford Forest until crews brought it under control.

Earlier, dangerous winds meant air bombers, brought in to support 13 Country Fire Service units at Mt Crawford, had to be redeployed to tackle other blazes.

CFS work to contain a fire at Mt Crawford. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

CFS battle strong winds as well as the fire at Mt Crawford. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

A property owner at Sandy Creek in the Barossa Valley attempted to conduct a controlled burn early on Sunday as strong northeasterly winds fanned the flames.

A CFS spokeswoman said the owner of the property, which did not fall into a total fire ban area, managed to control the blaze before it could threaten nearby homes.

A fire that broke out at 11am also came close to threatening houses at McGilp Rd, One Tree Hill north of Adelaide before 16 CFS trucks and a plane brought the fire under control.

Water bombers extinguishing a fire near Roseworthy, off the Sturt Highway. Picture: Alexandra Baker

Crews also contained a fire in a paddock on the Sturt Hwy near Roseworthy, which was among a number of grass fires stretching from the Gawler Ranges in the northern Eyre Peninsula to Padthaway in the state’s South East.

Light rain started falling on parts of the state late Sunday afternoon, giving welcome relief to crews on the fire grounds..

Oodnadatta recorded the state’s highest temperature 38.1C while the mercury topped 28.1C at midday in Adelaide before dropping 14 degrees by 6pm as the cool change arrived.

Adelaide is expecting a top of 17C Monday with possible rainfall of up to 6mm.

The weather bureau says the temperature will remain in the mid- to low-20s for the remainder of the week.

Updated @BOM_SA Severe Weather Warning for DAMAGING WINDS issued at 5:24PM : https://t.co/fT5bpqTZC9 pic.twitter.com/iM6ba1Rs2M

— Country Fire Service (@CFSAlerts) October 29, 2017