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Firefighters contain grassfire at Lewiston in SA sizzles through scorching October day
A grassfire burning near Lewiston in the lower Adelaide Plains has been contained, as the state sizzles on a day of severe fire danger.
- CFS declares early bushfire season
- Emergency services warn against bushfire complacency
- Man 'lit fires' on total ban day
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The CFS has contained a grassfire in Lewiston in the lower Adelaide Plains as the state sizzles on a day of severe fire danger.
The fire at Milbourne Court was earlier burning in a southerly direction towards Gawler River Road, the Gawler River and Angle Vale Road. The CFS was worried it could threaten people and properties but it has now been contained.
However, people are still reminded to take care in the area. Smoke will reduce visibility on the roads and there is a risk of trees and branches falling.
It comes as several South Australian towns are set to record their hottest overnight temperatures on record for the month of October, including Whyalla where it dropped to 23.5C.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Mark Analak said Cleve, Minlaton, Mount Crawford and Strathalbyn are all amongst the leaders for having the warmest October night on record.
Meanwhile, Adelaide dropped only to 24.1C just before 4am - the warmest night since April.
It was a warm one across #SouthAustralia overnight with some record high October minimum temperatures recorded: Whyalla 23.5°C (prev 22.3°C), Strathalbyn 22.1°C (prev 20.2°C), Cleve 23.3°C (prev 23.1°C), Minlaton 20.7 (prev 20.6°C). 🌡ï¸ðŸŒ™ Forecasts at: https://t.co/NsKA5ITjL2
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) October 30, 2019
The warm night will be followed by dangerous weather conditions, prompting the Country Fire Service to declare total fire bans in eight districts, which are considered to be at a severe bushfire risk.
The temperature is forecast to reach 36C in the city but could reach as high as 38C in Elizabeth and 40C in Murray Bridge.
By 1pm the mercury had already reached 35.2C in Adelaide.
Northern areas of the state are, unsurprisingly, looking at even hotter days with Ceduna forecast to reach 41C.
The West Coast, Eastern and Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and the Lower South East are all under total fire bans.
Senior forecaster Tom Boeck said a cool change would enter the west of the state late on Thursday and would hit more populated areas late on Friday.
“There is a high pressure system in the Tasman which is slow moving and causing northerly air system which has warmed up the state,” he said.
“But Friday is change day, the cool system will hit Adelaide late afternoon and there is the possibility of thunderstorms.”
MAN TO FACE COURT OVER TANUNDA FIRES
A Tanunda man will face court for allegedly lighting three fires during a day of severe fire danger.
Firefighters were called to a property on Diagonal Rd just before 9.30pm on Wednesday.
They extinguished three rubbish fires and a 70-year-old man was reported for three counts of lighting a fire during a total fire ban.
He will be summonsed to appear in the Tanunda Magistrates Court at a later date.
Updates
That's a wrap!
Wong, Butler told to get back to basics
A veteran Labor backbencher is urging Penny Wong and Mark Butler to “get back to grassroots” and listen to working South Australians.
Backbenchers are also calling for leader Anthony Albanese to visit SA more, amid concerns it will become a flyover state, with no guaranteed trips before Christmas.
It comes as Labor prepares to release its election review next Friday.
Massive delays on SE Freeway
There are delays of up to 40 minutes on the South Eastern Freeway after truck ran out of fuel on the downtrack.
It's stranded in the left-hand lane near the Bridgwater exit, with traffic bucked up to Mount Barker.
A number of Catholic, Anglican and Baptist bodies have joined the national redress scheme, paving the way for payments and services to be provided to more abuse survivors.
To date, the commonwealth, all state and territory governments and 67 non-government organisations covering more than 41,900 sites, such as churches, schools, homes, charities and community groups, across Australia have joined the scheme.
-AAP
More churches join abuse redress scheme
A number of Catholic, Anglican and Baptist bodies have joined the national redress scheme, paving the way for payments and services to be provided to more abuse survivors.
To date, the commonwealth, all state and territory governments and 67 non-government organisations covering more than 41,900 sites, such as churches, schools, homes, charities and community groups, across Australia have joined the scheme.
-AAP
China scolds Payne for human rights speech
Beijing has had stern words with Australian officials over Foreign Minister Marise Payne's insistence China should be called out for human rights abuses.
"Such ill-advised remarks will not help to improve or grow relations with China," Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
"We have lodged stern representations to the Australian side and pointed out the inappropriate nature of her conduct."
-AA
Calls for shake up of road safety approach
Data released by the Australian Automobile Association on Thursday showed 1185 people died on the nation's roads in the year to September 30.
It's a reduction of just 0.2 per cent from the national road toll for the same period four years ago, showing Australia will fail to meet its targets to reduce deaths.
"Instead of declining, the road toll has plateaued at a level that makes it clear we cannot meet the strategy's targets," AAA managing director Michael Bradley said today.
South Australia's road toll this year is 86. For comparison, 75 people died on the roads in all of 2018.
-AAP
Cracks discovered on Qantas plane
Qantas is quickly checking more than 30 of its Boeing 737 aircraft after cracking was discovered in one plane during a maintenance check.
Earlier this year, the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to check any 737s that had completed 30,000 flights for cracks.
The Qantas plane involved had completed fewer than 30,000 cycles and the airline said it had been removed from service for repair.
Perth Glory confirm ambitious Zlatan bid
Perth Glory have launched an audacious bid to sign iconic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The reigning A-League premiers have approached the 38-year-old Swedish superstar's agent Mino Raiola about a guest player deal, which would reportedly see him play up to six games for them.
Ibrahimovic's contract at LA Galaxy, who were beaten 5-3 by local rivals Los Angeles FC in the MLS Cup Western Conference semi-final last week, is set to expire at the end of the year.
-AAP
The Eyre Hwy is currently closed after a fuel tanker rolled and caught fire in Kelly, about 15km east of Kimba.
Luckily, the driver escaped unharmed.
Police say the road will be blocked in both directions for several hours.
There has been a crash in Ingle Farm on Bridge Rd, which is causing delays as you approach Wright Rd.
Elsewhere, there has been a crash on Heaslip Rd in Waterloo Corner, while traffic is building on the North South Motorway at the Port River Expressway.
And there are delays on Cross Rd around Goodwood Rd.
