Parndana, Vivonne Bay residents urged to leave as fires burn near Kangaroo Island towns
An Emergency Warning has been issued for a large part of central Kangaroo Island, with the township of Parndana under threat. A second Emergency Warning is still in place for Vivonne Bay on the south coast.
Emergency Warnings have been issued for uncontrolled bushfires on Kangaroo Island at Vivonne Bay and Parndana.
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There are two fires east and west of Parndana, which was evacuated with the army's assistance earlier today.
Two previous Emergency Warnings has now been combined into one, much larger area that takes in much of central Kangaroo Island.
The CFS says the fire west of the town is burning in a south-easterly direction but is likely to start moving east and north-east as the wind changes this afternoon.
A second emergency warning is current for the fire burning towards Vivonne Bay near South Coast Rd. It is burning in heavy scrub.
Click here to see detailed Kangaroo Island fire maps
Anyone left in the warning areas are warned to leave now. It will soon be too dangerous to do so.
The CFS is battling extreme fire conditions today, with gusty winds and temperatures about 40C. The CFS expects multiple flare-ups across the Ravine fire, which encompasses about a third of KI.
It has urged residents and tourists to leave now, before roads are closed and it becomes unsafe to drive, especially in the Parndana area.
The KI Wildlife Park was been evacuated as the fire headed towards Parndana, but its owners have reportedly decided to stay to try to protect hundreds of animals there.
The western side of Kangaroo Island is under a bushfire advice message and outbreaks are possible under the severe weather conditions.
Six armoured personnel carriers based at Edinburgh in Adelaide's north have headed to Kangaroo Island on the Sealink Ferry to help with the fire effort.
Meanwhile, a fire that burned about 4ha this morning at Kersbrook, in the Adelaide Hills near the Barossa Valley, is considered suspicious and police are investigating.