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South Australia bushfires: at least seven firefighters injured at Sampson Flat South Australia bushfires: at least seven firefighters injured at Sampson Flat
(35 minutes later)
Latest At least seven firefighters have been injured while battling an out-of-control blaze as southern South Australia faces the worst bushfire since the 1983 Ash Wednesday blaze.
At least seven firefighters have been injured while battling an out-of-control blaze at Sampson Flat in South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges. The Adelaide Hills area is facing “an incredibly dangerous fire,” authorities have warned and it is likely dozens of homes have been lost. A state of emergency has been declared.
The scrub fire, near One Tree Hill, Millbrook Reservoir, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Birdwood and Mount Crawford Forrest, is travelling in an erratic manner and burning freely in all directions. Earlier the Country Fire Service (CFS) told residents in threatened areas to get out, providing their path was clear.
The Country Fire Service says lives are at risk in towns including Upper Hermitage, Chain of Ponds and the townships of Inglewood, Houghton, Cudlee Creek, Lower Hermitage, Forreston, Lobethal, Mount Torrens, Charleston, Williamstown, Woodside, Lenswood and Mt Pleasant. “Residents in the Adelaide Hills are being confronted by a fire which hasn’t been seen in the hills since the 1983 bushfires of Ash Wednesday,” SA police commissioner Gary Burns said on Saturday morning. “At the moment we have a fire which is extremely dangerous.”
The scrub fire at Sampson Flat in South Australia’s Mount Lofty Ranges, near One Tree Hill, Millbrook Reservoir, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Birdwood and Mount Crawford Forrest, is travelling in an erratic manner and burning freely in all directions.
The CFS says lives are at risk in towns including Upper Hermitage, Chain of Ponds and the townships of Inglewood, Houghton, Cudlee Creek, Lower Hermitage, Forreston, Lobethal, Mount Torrens, Charleston, Williamstown, Woodside, Lenswood and Mt Pleasant.
“One of our appliances was caught by the fire and several people have some injuries as a result of that,” CFS spokesman Rob Sandford told ABC radio.“One of our appliances was caught by the fire and several people have some injuries as a result of that,” CFS spokesman Rob Sandford told ABC radio.
“We don’t know the full extent ... [but] they are being treated and supported by SA Ambulance.”“We don’t know the full extent ... [but] they are being treated and supported by SA Ambulance.”
Sandford earlier said it was likely that dozens of homes had been destroyed in the blaze.Sandford earlier said it was likely that dozens of homes had been destroyed in the blaze.
Relief centres have been opened at Golden Grove Recreation Centre and at Curdatta Cricket Club in Sandy Creek.Relief centres have been opened at Golden Grove Recreation Centre and at Curdatta Cricket Club in Sandy Creek.
Thousands of firefighters are battling the blaze in hot and very windy weather.Thousands of firefighters are battling the blaze in hot and very windy weather.
“They’re all working in very arduous conditions and doing very, very hard work,” Sandford said.“They’re all working in very arduous conditions and doing very, very hard work,” Sandford said.
“They’re doing their absolute best in what are the worst of conditions imaginable for firefighting.“They’re doing their absolute best in what are the worst of conditions imaginable for firefighting.
“We just want them all to come home safe, because this situation is very dynamic and we don’t want the tragedy of any of our firefighters being injured or worse.”“We just want them all to come home safe, because this situation is very dynamic and we don’t want the tragedy of any of our firefighters being injured or worse.”
Earlier In Victoria, one home has been lost in Moyston in the state’s west and conditions were threatening to worsen on Saturday.
Southern South Australia is facing the worst bushfire since the 1983 Ash Wednesday blaze. The Adelaide Hills area is facing “an incredibly dangerous fire,” authorities have warned. In Tasmania a helicopter and five fire crews have brought a bushfire in the state’s south under control.
More homes have been lost and the Country Fire Service (CFS) is warning residents in threatened areas to get out, providing their path is clear. The blaze flared up at Austin’s Ferry, north of Hobart, on Saturday afternoon but was under control by 3.30pm local time. It was one of a number of bushfires burning around the state, including several in Tasmania’s north.
“Residents in the Adelaide Hills are being confronted by a fire which hasn’t been seen in the hills since the 1983 bushfires of Ash Wednesday,” SA police commissioner Gary Burns said. “At the moment we have a fire which is extremely dangerous.” The Adelaide Hills bushfire would not be brought under control this weekend, firefighters said, as they were concentrating on saving lives and protecting property.
The Sampson Flat scrub fire, near One Tree Hill, Crouch Hill, Millbrook Reservoir, Mount Gawler, Devils Gully and Bare Hill, is threatening lives and homes, the CFS says.
The CFS says the fire is burning towards Golden Grove, Upper Hermitage, Break Neck Hill, Kersbrook Township, One Tree Hill Township, Little Para Reservoir, Chain of Ponds and the townships of Inglewood, Houghton, Cudlee Creek, Lower Hermitage, Forreston, Gumeracha, Lobethal, Mount Torrens, Charleston, Williamstown, Birdwood, Woodside, Lenswood and Mt Pleasant.
The CFS urges anyone within those areas to enact their bushfire survival plans.
“If you do not feel your property is prepared to a defendable level, leave whilst you have a clear exit to a safer place,” the CFS said.
“Due to the uncertain nature and impact of the fire behaviour the Adelaide Hills faces today it is imperative that people within these vicinities take appropriate action now.”
The premier, Jay Weatherill, urged residents who planned to leave the area to do so immediately. “If you’ve decided to stay, you need to be aware that the fire will become incredibly scary and could lead you to change your mind at some point,” he said. “It could be a catastrophic decision for you to leave late.”
The bushfire in the Adelaide Hills won’t be brought under control this weekend, with firefighters concentrating on saving lives and protecting property.
CFS duty controller Ian Tanner said the fire was still burning uncontrolled on several flanks but towns to the south are most at risk on Saturday.CFS duty controller Ian Tanner said the fire was still burning uncontrolled on several flanks but towns to the south are most at risk on Saturday.
“It’s not a good picture,” he told a meeting of local residents. “We will not put this fire out today or tomorrow. We are concentrating all our efforts on saving lives and saving assets.”“It’s not a good picture,” he told a meeting of local residents. “We will not put this fire out today or tomorrow. We are concentrating all our efforts on saving lives and saving assets.”
The meeting was told that several properties in the fire zone had been destroyed but the area was too dangerous for firefighters to check on numbers.The meeting was told that several properties in the fire zone had been destroyed but the area was too dangerous for firefighters to check on numbers.
The premier, Jay Weatherill, urged residents who planned to leave the area to do so early. “If you’ve decided to stay, you need to be aware that the fire will become incredibly scary and could lead you to change your mind at some point,” he said. “It could be a catastrophic decision for you to leave late.”
A slight wind change early on Saturday had helped the most immediate firefighting efforts but that change in direction was expected to be short-lived, with winds forecast to shift back to the northwest.A slight wind change early on Saturday had helped the most immediate firefighting efforts but that change in direction was expected to be short-lived, with winds forecast to shift back to the northwest.
A more significant wind change was still expected later on Saturday. That could help firefighters to eventually bring the blaze under control.A more significant wind change was still expected later on Saturday. That could help firefighters to eventually bring the blaze under control.
It’s not yet known how many homes have been destroyed in the Sampson Flat blaze as it’s not safe to get into the Upper Hermitage area that’s affected, said Brenton Eden of the CFS.It’s not yet known how many homes have been destroyed in the Sampson Flat blaze as it’s not safe to get into the Upper Hermitage area that’s affected, said Brenton Eden of the CFS.
“But it will be more than five” - the number of properties already reported lost on Friday, he said.“But it will be more than five” - the number of properties already reported lost on Friday, he said.
Two of the lost homes belong to firefighters who have been battling the out-of-control bushfire while another belongs to a police officer also helping in the emergency.Two of the lost homes belong to firefighters who have been battling the out-of-control bushfire while another belongs to a police officer also helping in the emergency.
“We know in the early hours of this morning we lost a number of homes in Upper Hermitage we have not been able to get in there to determine the asset there loss. So there will be more than five,” Eden said.“We know in the early hours of this morning we lost a number of homes in Upper Hermitage we have not been able to get in there to determine the asset there loss. So there will be more than five,” Eden said.
“We are also reporting, which is most tragic, two of the homes destroyed were homes of CFS firefighters who were out fighting the fire to protect their community last night.”“We are also reporting, which is most tragic, two of the homes destroyed were homes of CFS firefighters who were out fighting the fire to protect their community last night.”
About 100 New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteers will fly to South Australia, leaving about 5.30pm Saturday.About 100 New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteers will fly to South Australia, leaving about 5.30pm Saturday.
Emergency services in South Australia have already accepted an offer of a specialist aircraft from NSW, along with other resources, and two air tankers from Victoria.Emergency services in South Australia have already accepted an offer of a specialist aircraft from NSW, along with other resources, and two air tankers from Victoria.
Smoke from the fire, burning in the Mount Lofty ranges northeast of Adelaide, can be seen from the metropolitan area. Smoke from the fire, burning north-east of Adelaide, can be seen from the metropolitan area.
A CFS spokesman said an expected wind change could accelerate the fire. A bushfire at Tantanoola in South Australia’s Lower South East region has eased but may still threaten the safety of residents.
The CFS expects a change in the wind direction could affect Gumeracha, Chain of Ponds, Forreston and Kersbrook near Little Para Road, Forreston Road, Adelaide to Mannum Road, Checker Hill Road, Hill Road and Northsworthy Road. The CFS says ground crews are patrolling and mopping up the fire area.