Bushfires: Army moves in on Kangaroo Island’s frontline

Fire was closing in fast on Kangaroo Island late on Thursday as the army arrived to help 200 firefighters.

A firefighting helicopter douses a blaze on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Seven News

Fire was closing in fast on the Kangaroo Island community of Parndana late on Thursday as the army arrived to help 200 firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze.

Planes dumped water as the fire broke containment lines in several places.

The South Australian Country Fire Service urged almost 300 residents to evacuate from the south coast of the island on Wednesday and Thursday as hot and gusty conditions threatened. There were hopes cooler conditions and maybe even rain could bring relief late on Thursday or early Friday.

Incident controller Ian Tanner said fire conditions were continuing to worsen, making exit routes increasingly unsafe to use.

“The CFS urges people not to wait for an emergency warning to be issued, as it will be too late to leave,’’ Mr Tanner said.

“The roads surrounding Parndana Conservation Park, along with Timber Creek Road and Playford Highway, are currently open and can be used to exit the area.

“However, these roads will soon be unsafe and will likely be closed because of changing weather conditions and increasing fire activity.’’

Fire had destroyed a third of the island, including 56 homes and its famous luxury resort.

Last Friday, father and son Dick and Clayton Lang died close to their family property. They had been fighting the fire for two days and were almost home when they were overcome.

The fires have obliterated 162,000ha of Kangaroo Island, home to Australia’s only popul­ation of chlamydia-free koalas, since December 20.

Before image of eucalypt forest on Kangaroo Island.

After image of eucalypt forest on the island. Picture: AAP

The fires were considered threatening but not deadly for two weeks before they erupted.

The Flinders Chase National Park has been scorched and there were fears on Thursday that up to half the island’s native animals were dead. Farmers used their own firefighting units to try to control the fires. An estimated 100,000 farm animals perished.

The CFS used backburning to strengthen control lines around the fire on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Strong winds and temperatures in the high 30s arrived­ on Thursday, creating highly dangerous conditions. That is when the fire began moving quickly.

An emergency warning was issue­d as firefighters identified multiple breakouts along the region­’­s fire perimeter.

On Thursday, police went door to door on the south side of the ­island, telling residents to head for the safer areas of Kingscote or Penneshaw.

Some still chose to stay.

“In an unprecedented move, the Australian Army’s 1st Arm­oured Regiment has just loaded six Armoured Personnel Carriers on to the Sealink ferry from Cape Jervis to Kangaroo Island,” MP Leon Bignell posted on Facebook.