Bushfire crisis across South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia in devastating detail

THESE are the pictures which capture the heartbreak, joy and heroism of Australians during one of the most devastating bushfire seasons ever seen.

A heartbroken Jo Morris receives a hug from a surviving furry friend as she mourns the loss of her kangaroos at the Kangaribilli Sanctuary. Picture: Mark Brake

THESE are the pictures which capture the devastation, the heartbreak, the joy and the heroism of Australians during one of the most destructive bushfire seasons ever seen in Australia.

The biggest battle this past week has been in South Australia, but there have also been fires in Victoria and Western Australia.

The fire in the Adelaide Hills has destroyed at least 26 homes, was the news yesterday that there had been no major change to the fire’s 238km perimeter, which was continuing to burn out of control on Adelaide’s north-eastern fringe.

Wednesday looms as the “day of highest potential” for further havoc.

While residents are lucky that no lives have been lost in the fires so far, many animals have been killed.

Jo Morris and her husband Gregg have run a shelter for kangaroos for the past seven years. The fire ripped through their property on Friday, and Mrs Morris recalls pleading with the CFS to “please save my kangaroos”. While they managed to save some animals, others perished in the blaze.

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A deer lays dead after a bushfire moved through the area near One Tree Hill in the Adelaide Hills on January 5. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Jo Morris and her family mourn the loss of a kangaroo at Kangaribilli Sanctuary. Picture: Mark Brake

“Could they just please save my kangaroos,” Mrs Morris recalled asking CFS. Picture Mark Brake

Fire tore through Jo Morris’ property on Friday. Picture: Mark Brake

Hope among loss: Jo Morris with her survivor pal. Picture: Mark Brake

”You could just see a huge wall of flames that was coming towards our place,” said a devastated Mrs Morris. Picture: Mark Brake

Reinforcements arrived from NSW yesterday to bolster 700 South Australian firefighters already on the ground, with more from Victoria expected today.

The temperature in Adelaide and surrounding areas is forecast to soar to 38C today, and again tomorrow when a late weather change should move through the fire zone, bringing with it shifting winds and the possibility of thunderstorms.

“The day of the change is always the day of highest potential,” Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton said.

Since the fire began its devastating rage at Sampson Flat, northeast of Adelaide, on Saturday, it has burned through 13,000 hectares of land.

More homes could be destroyed as the fire continues on its path.

In Victoria, a bushfire blazing in the state’s west was downgraded overnight.

Residents north of the Black Range State Park, 340 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, were warned to stay away as 12 aircraft battled the blaze yesterday.

The bushfire, which has burnt at least 1000 hectares, is one of two major blazes battled by firefighters yesterday.

Three separate fires in the Little Desert Park, in the western district of Victoria, had burnt almost 4000 hectares since Sunday, but did not pose a threat to homes or lives.

Rain is not forecast until later this week.

The fires come two days after a 5000ha blaze at Moyston, near the Grampians mountain range in Victoria, destroyed two homes and partially burnt others.

Simon Crisp takes a well earned bath and a beer only minutes after saving his property with the help of the CFA from the bushfire in Longwood East, Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

Smoke billows onto a road at Cudlee Creek in South Australia on Saturday. Picture: Phil Williams

Lynne Lamshed comforts her neighbours Anne and Gerry Schmied as they returned to their Sampson Flat home in South Australia. It was the first time they had been back since leaving on Saturday to flee the fire.

Anne Schmied confronts the devastating scenes, returning home after the fire on Saturday.

Sam Demaria, 73, who broke his toe while fighting a bushfire threatening his property near One Tree Hill in South Australia, lost all his sheds but his house was saved by sprinklers. Picture: Mark Brake

A charred sign warns drivers of kangaroos ahead at Cudlee Creek, South Australia. Picture: Phil Williams

Meanwhile, residents of Perth’s east are still under threat after a lightning strike caused a fire to flare near Bailup Road, Toodyay Road and Burma Road in Bailup, 34km east of the city.

Residents have been told they need to leave or get ready to actively defend their properties, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said.

A Country Fire Service volunteer reacts as rain starts to fall near One Tree Hill northeast of Adelaide on Saturday. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The Whiteway family lost their home on Friday night in Kersbrook during the Sampsons Flat bushfire. Vicky Whiteway comforts daughter Ella, 13, after seeing their home for the first time.

Sam Whiteway, 12, sits on the hammock that survived the fire when everything was burnt around it.

David Miller lost is home on Friday night in Kersbrook during the Sampsons Flat bushfire.

The Sampson Flat bushfire in the Adelaide Hills from South Coast Helicopters. Picture: Sam Wundke

A caravan saved from the fire sits on charred earth near One Tree Hill in the Adelaide Hills, northeast of Adelaide on January 3, 2015. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mateship: Firefighters support each other after hours of fighting bushfires burning in rough terrain at Longwood East, Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

Devastation in Sampson Flat after a fire ripped through the Adelaide Hills. Photo: Sam Wundke.

Embers glow against the smoke-filled sunset near Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Still managing a smile. Picture: Jason Edwards

Respect to those fighting tonight #sampsonflat #kersbrook #adelaidehills #bushfire #onetreehill #AdelHills pic.twitter.com/RruEEJxosQ

— Ben Goode (@benjigoode) January 2, 2015

There is no denying the amazing work our @CFSAlerts volunteers do...powerful photo by @theTiser Dylan Coker #SAFires pic.twitter.com/ngk9RB1qxZ

— Bianca De Marchi (@bianca_demarchi) January 3, 2015

Good samaritin @SarahReed @9NewsAdel @theTiser pic.twitter.com/BAsi0W4RZ3

— Richard Egan (@docegan) January 3, 2015

Bocce ball embedded in a tree after a Kersbrook shed exploded in the #SAFires pic.twitter.com/dN6bL0VEL6

— Ben Avery (@benavery9) January 5, 2015

Just saw these horses running from #HumbugScrub #SampsonFlat bushfire. They're ok. @9NewsAdel #9Newscomau #SAFires pic.twitter.com/4xGyS8Msba

— Edward Godfrey (@EdwardGodfrey9) January 4, 2015

Not our pooches I have them safe! #SAFires #Bushfire #Adelaide #SampsonFlat #HumbugScrub @ABCemergency pic.twitter.com/QCCVtyVDlU

— Karina Natt (@Karina_Natt) January 2, 2015

#CFS working hard at #HumbugScrub in #adelaidehills My friend just flew over #Kersbrook Devastating... @891adelaide pic.twitter.com/G2N4OT1PpZ

— Not-So-Suzy (@NotSoSuzy) January 2, 2015