Huge bushfire in SA’s remote Far North threatened Umuwa, burns more than 160,000ha
A REMOTE indigenous community has withstood a massive fire front larger than Northern Ireland and three times the size of Kangaroo Island.
A REMOTE northern community has withstood a bushfire three times the size of Kangaroo Island.
The fire, which started on the Northern Territory side of the border began a week and a half ago in inaccessible terrain.
As the fire grew in the remote northwest of the state, two lone Country Fire Service units monitored its progress.
The fire was fanned by high winds late last week, sending it racing across dry scrubland and across the face of Mount Woodroffe, South Australia’s highest peak.
On Friday the fire entered the flatlands surrounding the remote community of Umuwa, which is 460km south west of Alice Springs.
Members of the community and CFS personnel from strike teams built extensive fire breaks around the camp using a grader.
On Friday evening the fire burned around the community but caused no damage.
CFS Region 4 acting commander Ann Letcher said the safety of the town came down to a combination of the work of CFS volunteers, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands Council, and Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation (RASAC) and local community members.
“This work shows how important preparation and breaks around communities are in this area,” Ms Letcher said.
“Without the combined work of CFS, local services, and the community, this fire may have been devastating.
“Our volunteers, both locals and those brought in to assist, have worked tirelessly over the past few days. We thank them for their commitment and hard work to ensure this community was kept safe.”
The fire has now been contained and no further fire activity has been reported near the town.
Fire crews were actively locating and extinguishing hot spots in the fire ground over the weekend.
The fire left scorched scrub and bushland larger than Northern Ireland.
