Infra-red cameras in CFS helicopters capture Cherry Gardens blaze

Vision from thermal imaging cameras is helping the CFS find hot-spots in the Cherry Gardens fire – as one fire crew makes history.

Thermal imaging cameras have captured footage of the Cherry Gardens fire the day it erupted – revealing the blaze’s potential threat to surrounding areas.

The footage was released by the Country Fire Service, captured on Sunday, the day the fire broke out, and taken by volunteers in helicopters.

CFS Incident Controller Scott Turner said the fire service would continue to use the cameras for weeks in the area, as crews monitor hot spots.

Mr Turner said more than 100 volunteers on the fireground would monitoring the 28km perimeter for the next four days.

“Flare-ups will continue for weeks to come, at the moment our focus is the ones along the boundary,” Mr Turner said.

He said warm weather in coming days was favourable for crews because it made it easier to identify hot spots. By 2pm on Wednesday afternoon, 70 hot spots had been identified in a single day.

Thermal imaging cameras capture firefighting efforts in the Cherry Gardens blaze. Pic: supplied

Thermal imaging cameras capture firefighting efforts in the Cherry Gardens blaze. Pic: supplied

About 2700ha burned in the fire, with two homes destroyed as well as an additional 17 structures.

The infra-red thermal imaging cameras, being used for the second fire season in SA, are a game-changer for volunteers.

“This technology ensures that the firefighters can see into the ground and into trees to identify hot spots – previously we’ve had to wait to them to come out or to flare up,” Mr Turner said.

“This saves a lot of time for our volunteers and allows them to focus on community safety.”

Within the fire scar, there are five clearly defined pockets of fuel vegetation crews will monitor in coming days and weeks.

Using the cameras for mopping-up efforts was a crew from the Eden Hills CFS – the brigade’s first all-female crew.

Eden Hills Brigade crew leader Tahlia Lockwood said she felt humble proud to represent the first group of women in a single crew.

Eden Hills brigade Cass Gordon, Hayley Meyer, crew leader Tahlia Lockwood and driver Ellen Painter are the CFS’ first all-female crew - picture at the Mt Bold fireground. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“At the end of the day we are all firefighters,” Ms Lockwood, 22, said.

“A firefighter is a firefighter, be it male or female … as long as we’re all putting in the hard yards to help out.”

Hayley Meyer, 18, also in the crew, said working with an all-female crew has been amazing.

“I hope we can inspire younger people, and girls, to join the CFS,” Ms Meyer said.

The crew was assisting in monitoring hot spots, and extinguishing burning trees.