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Firefighters combat bushfires amid South Australia and Victoria heatwave Firefighters combat bushfires amid South Australia and Victoria heatwave
(35 minutes later)
A fast moving, out of control fire was threatening communities on Melbourne’s outskirts on Saturday morning. A fast-moving, out-of-control fire has reportedly destroyed at least one shed and is threatening homes and businesses on Melbourne’s outskirts.
Related: Melbourne braces for heatwave as temperatures could hit 40C on SaturdayRelated: Melbourne braces for heatwave as temperatures could hit 40C on Saturday
The Country Fire Authority issued a watch and act message for the Epping area. The Country Fire Authority issued a watch and act message for the Epping area on Saturday.
“There is a medium 5ha grassfire travelling fast in a southerly direction from Harvest Home Road towards O’Hearns Road, Epping,” the CFA said in a statement.“There is a medium 5ha grassfire travelling fast in a southerly direction from Harvest Home Road towards O’Hearns Road, Epping,” the CFA said in a statement.
A spokesperson from the State Control Centre told AAP on Saturday that there was a lot of smoke in the area and five firefighting aircraft are helping fire crews on the ground douse the flames.A spokesperson from the State Control Centre told AAP on Saturday that there was a lot of smoke in the area and five firefighting aircraft are helping fire crews on the ground douse the flames.
“It is a fire we are concerned about,” the spokesperson said.“It is a fire we are concerned about,” the spokesperson said.
Residents are warned that conditions are changing and are told to enact their fire plans.Residents are warned that conditions are changing and are told to enact their fire plans.
Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire and it has now crossed O’Hearns Road and is travelling in a southerly direction and is impacting on Cooper Street.Firefighters have been unable to stop the fire and it has now crossed O’Hearns Road and is travelling in a southerly direction and is impacting on Cooper Street.
The area is close to factories and a hospital.The area is close to factories and a hospital.
Seven News reported one property had been destroyed. Seven News reported one property structure had been destroyed.
The Hume Freeway and Cooper Street have been closed due to the fire.The Hume Freeway and Cooper Street have been closed due to the fire.
Lightning strikes from a storm band moving across South Australia sparked a string of bushfires from the state’s far north to the southeast on Frrday. Out of control fires were also keeping South Australian firefighters busy as they braced for more extreme temperatures on Saturday.
Country Fire Service crews quickly contained most of the fires, which also destroyed some crops. The CFS issued advice warnings for Waltowa and Campoona.
But the CFS says more are expected into the night as long as the storm conditions persisted. Smoke is visible in nearby areas and residents were advised to close all doors and windows and enact their fire plans.
“Currently, severe fire conditions mean these fires could establish quickly and present a threat to communities,” the service said.
By late on Friday only three fires were still listed as going. One at Horsnell Gully in the Adelaide Hills, one at Bibaringa, north of the city, and one at Bunbury, in the southeast.
A bushfire advice message was issued for the Bunbury fire because of thick smoke which could cause issues for local residents.
South Australia remains in the grip of a week-long heatwave.South Australia remains in the grip of a week-long heatwave.
Maximum temperatures in Adelaide have topped 40C for the past three days and the extreme conditions were forecast to peak on Saturday with the city tipped to have a top temperature of 44C.Maximum temperatures in Adelaide have topped 40C for the past three days and the extreme conditions were forecast to peak on Saturday with the city tipped to have a top temperature of 44C.
The bushfire risk is also rising as winds increase ahead of a cooler change on Saturday night.The bushfire risk is also rising as winds increase ahead of a cooler change on Saturday night.
Strike teams of firefighters have been deployed to high-risk hot spots across Tasmania after authorities imposed fire bans across the state.Strike teams of firefighters have been deployed to high-risk hot spots across Tasmania after authorities imposed fire bans across the state.
North and south regions of the island are subject to the bans for both Saturday and Sunday with hot and dry conditions forecast.North and south regions of the island are subject to the bans for both Saturday and Sunday with hot and dry conditions forecast.
“There’s some hot weather coming over the weekend with some accompanying winds and the fire danger in some areas is going to be very high to severe,” Tasmania Fire Service chief Gavin Freeman told reporters on Friday.“There’s some hot weather coming over the weekend with some accompanying winds and the fire danger in some areas is going to be very high to severe,” Tasmania Fire Service chief Gavin Freeman told reporters on Friday.
Temperatures in some parts of Tasmania are expected to reach more than 30C on Saturday, with the heat pushing past 40C on Sunday in the north of the state.Temperatures in some parts of Tasmania are expected to reach more than 30C on Saturday, with the heat pushing past 40C on Sunday in the north of the state.
Related: How to cope with a heatwaveRelated: How to cope with a heatwave
“The grass and fire fuels are curing fairly rapidly so those conditions will carry fire,” Freeman said. “Under the weather that we’ve got available this weekend fire will develop quickly and spread rapidly.”“The grass and fire fuels are curing fairly rapidly so those conditions will carry fire,” Freeman said. “Under the weather that we’ve got available this weekend fire will develop quickly and spread rapidly.”
A bushfire burning near the state’s central Arthurs Lake district since Wednesday was stopped by crews on Friday and Freeman said a couple of other small blazes were expected be extinguished quickly.A bushfire burning near the state’s central Arthurs Lake district since Wednesday was stopped by crews on Friday and Freeman said a couple of other small blazes were expected be extinguished quickly.
As a precaution, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has closed walking tracks for the weekend in some national parks, including at Freycinet and Douglas-Apsley on the east coast.As a precaution, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has closed walking tracks for the weekend in some national parks, including at Freycinet and Douglas-Apsley on the east coast.