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Two scrub fires in Montacute and Naracoorte over past 24 hours sparked by carelessness
Two separate scrub fires in the past 24 hours were sparked by carelessness amid soaring temperatures that have residents still on high alert, while a fire started by an electric bike has left a man in hospital.
Two separate scrub fires in South Australia in the past 24 hours were sparked by carelessness amid soaring temperatures that have residents on high alert.
Just after 4pm on Sunday, the Country Fire Service issued an alert to residents around the Mt Lofty Ranges after a fire started on Montacute Rd, Montacute.
The fire, which was started by a discarded cigarette butt on Saturday night, was burning steep terrain, making it difficult for crews to access.
The next day, another fire started around noon in Naracoorte in the state's southeast.
Police believe it was caused by an angle grinder and they will be following up with the occupant of the property on which the fire started.
Several vehicles, sheds and fencing were destroyed before the fire was brought under control.
In Montacute, crews battled the fire throughout Sunday and overnight before it was contained.
However, the hot and dry conditions forecast this week mean it could pick up again, the CFS say.
"The concerns today are of course that it's going to be a bit hotter, and it's also the possibility of a bit of wind kicking up through the gullies as well," Brett Williamson from the CFS said.
"So if that fire does start to take hold again there are some houses in the area, and also the (Morialta) conservation park, that we'll be making sure we protect," he said.
"It shows one cigarette has caused 5ha of damage, threatened six houses and taken up quite a lot of valuable time of CFS firefighters and the [Department for Environment and Water]."
A severe fire danger warning, as well as a total fire ban, has been issued today for the Mt Lofty Ranges due to very hot and dry conditions.
People in the areas of Montacute Rd, Chapmans Track, Smiths Gully Rd and Moores Rd near the Morialta Conservation Park have been asked to stay alert and monitor local conditions.
Crews are still attending the fire as they extinguish hotspots, however, there is "no threat to life or property" at the moment.
They were worried the fire would start up again after a separate grass fire was sparked by an electric bike on Corkscrew Rd about 8.30am on Monday.
The fire has since been brought under control and at least two units are still on the scene.
A man who was riding the bike has been taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with minor burns.
Further updates to the fire are expected to be released as the situation changes.
Updates
That's all for today
Independent MP Cathy McGowan quits politics
Independent MP Cathy McGowan will quit politics at the next federal election, declaring today that it's "time to pass on the baton".
The Victorian Member for Indi's announcement comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison was quizzed this morning about how he would fix the Liberal Party's women problem by boosting the number of female MPs in Parliament.
Mayor of major Polish city Gdansk stabbed on stage
The mayor of Polish port city Gdansk was stabbed while on stage at a charity event.
Footage which claims to have been shot during the event, shows the incident happened in front of a large, celebrating crowd.
Pawel Adamowicz was rushed to hospital following the attack in a serious condition.
Mr Adamowicz was attacked with a sharp tool during the "Light to Heaven" event, spokeswoman Magdalena Skorupka-Kaczmarek said.
Aussie Leishman remains fifth at Sony Open
Super-consistent Marc Leishman is on track for another big US PGA Tour payday early in his final round at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The Australian birdied the fourth to move equal fifth on 12-under at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, but the title appears beyond him.
Overnight leader Matt Kuchar remains one shot ahead of countryman Andrew Putnam despite bogeying the par-4 second.
Suspected youths break-in to Myer Centre overnight
Four suspects, described as aged between 12-15, broke into the Adelaide Myer Centre in Rundle Mall overnight.
About 4.30am on Monday, security officers found a side door had been broken into.
Police patrols discovered several food outlets and stores had been accessed, with cashier tills and clothes stolen.
CCTV footage shows four suspects enter the centre on scooters and a bicycle before leaving wearing stolen clothes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Scorcher to make for sweaty Aus Open start
Australian Open players, fans and officials will sweat through the opening day of the season-opening grand slam, with a 35C scorcher in store for Melbourne.
The mercury has risen to a comfortable 22.8C, two hours before the first ball being struck at Melbourne Park.
Former winner Maria Sharapova, 14th-seeded German Julia Goerges and two-time grand slam finalist Kevin Anderson will be first up on centre courts from 10.30am Adelaide time.
NSW premier under the pump on pill testing
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is standing firm on her opposition to pill testing, despite pleas from the family of a teenager who died of a suspected overdose after taking drugs at a music festival.
Alex Ross-King, 19, died after she was rushed from the FOMO festival at Parramatta Park to Westmead Hospital on Saturday night.
It was the fifth such death in NSW since mid-September.
"Premier please can we have this pill testing done," her grandmother, Denise Doig, told Network Ten on Sunday.
"My heart literally gets torn to shreds every time we hear about a young person dying in this way," Ms Berejiklian told The Today Show this morning.
"But the important thing to remember is that we do need to focus more on education."
$500,000 in grants for State Heritage property owners
Owners of State Heritage-listed properties will be able to get $500,000 in grants to help them undertake preservation and restoration works.
The State Government's new SA Heritage Grants Program will open today in an attempt to rejuvenate South Australia’s built heritage after funding cuts of $600,000 by the former Labor government.
Full story by Simeon-Thomas Wilson
Port Lincoln driver caught allegedly three times over the limit
A man has been reported for drink driving after allegedly blowing a blood alcohol reading of more than three times the legal limit.
Just after 1am on Monday, police pulled over a Toyota ute on Hallett Place in Port Lincoln.
It is alleged he returned a reading of 0.162.
The drive,r a 31-year-old local man immediately lost his licence for 12 months, and had his car impounded for 28 days.
Traffic Update - Crash on Kensington Rd, Norwood
Traffic around Corkscrew Rd near Gorge Rd may be affected by fire crews in the area who are attending to the Montacute fire.
There has also been a crash heading northbound on Kensington Rd near George St, Norwood. It will take time for crews to clean up debris.
Delays are still persisting heading northbound on the Phillip Hwy due to a burst water main.
Another reminder, Victoria Square is closed between Grote St and Wakefield St for the Tour Down Under. Bartels Rd is also closed.
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