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South Australia bushfires: dozens of homes feared lost in worst outbreak for 30 years South Australia bushfires: dozens of homes feared lost in worst outbreak for 30 years
(35 minutes later)
The Adelaide Hills is braced for a fourth day of the worst bushfires South Australia has endured in 30 years.The Adelaide Hills is braced for a fourth day of the worst bushfires South Australia has endured in 30 years.
Twelve homes have been confirmed as destroyed with fears for about 20 more according to the state’s premier, Jay Weatherill.Twelve homes have been confirmed as destroyed with fears for about 20 more according to the state’s premier, Jay Weatherill.
“This is obviously enormously distressing to the people concerned,” the premier said on Sunday.“This is obviously enormously distressing to the people concerned,” the premier said on Sunday.
“We’ll make every effort to contact those people. We will be reopening areas once it’s safe to do so, however there remains serious risks associated with falling trees and falling power lines.”“We’ll make every effort to contact those people. We will be reopening areas once it’s safe to do so, however there remains serious risks associated with falling trees and falling power lines.”
The Country Fire Service said 22 firefighters have also been injured in the blaze, though none seriously, and one fire truck destroyed in the worst conditions since Ash Wednesday in 1983.The Country Fire Service said 22 firefighters have also been injured in the blaze, though none seriously, and one fire truck destroyed in the worst conditions since Ash Wednesday in 1983.
Police said on Sunday evening that they were investigating reports that two elderly people had not been accounted for.
They were identified only as a man from Kersbrook and a woman from Cudlee Creek.
The police commissioner, Gary Burns, said he had no information on the circumstances or whether other family members had raised concerns.
He said patrols were on their way to those two areas to continue investigations.
Police also revealed that one person had been arrested for repeatedly trying to access the fire zone at a control point.
Although temperatures were forecast to be lower on Sunday, at 31 degrees, winds reached up to 40km/h and the forecast for Monday is similar.Although temperatures were forecast to be lower on Sunday, at 31 degrees, winds reached up to 40km/h and the forecast for Monday is similar.
At least 19 communities remained under threat and Weatherill has warned residents to be vigilant as the western front of the fire burns within 30km of the city centre.At least 19 communities remained under threat and Weatherill has warned residents to be vigilant as the western front of the fire burns within 30km of the city centre.
The federal justice minister, Michael Keenan, signalled the government is looking to shift its focus of disaster funding from recovery to mitigation.The federal justice minister, Michael Keenan, signalled the government is looking to shift its focus of disaster funding from recovery to mitigation.
“I actually think we do need to look at how we are going to make sure we are spending the money we do spend on disasters in Australia in the most effective way,” he said after Greens leader Christine Milne called on the government to take strong action against climate change.“I actually think we do need to look at how we are going to make sure we are spending the money we do spend on disasters in Australia in the most effective way,” he said after Greens leader Christine Milne called on the government to take strong action against climate change.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) reduced the fire warning from the highest emergency level to a watch and act message on Sunday morning at which it remained going into Monday.The Country Fire Service (CFS) reduced the fire warning from the highest emergency level to a watch and act message on Sunday morning at which it remained going into Monday.
However, it said the fire was stilling burning on several fronts and threatened the safety of residents in a number of communities including Sampson Flat, One Tree Hill, Humbug Scrub, Millbrook Reservoir, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Birdwood, Mount Crawford and Kenton Valley.However, it said the fire was stilling burning on several fronts and threatened the safety of residents in a number of communities including Sampson Flat, One Tree Hill, Humbug Scrub, Millbrook Reservoir, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Birdwood, Mount Crawford and Kenton Valley.
“The fire behaviour may be erratic and burning in all directions,” the CFS said. “There is a risk to lives and property.”“The fire behaviour may be erratic and burning in all directions,” the CFS said. “There is a risk to lives and property.”
Ground and air crews continued to work on the blaze on Sunday with more than 400 firefighters, 80 fire trucks and 14 aircraft involved.Ground and air crews continued to work on the blaze on Sunday with more than 400 firefighters, 80 fire trucks and 14 aircraft involved.
The blaze has already destroyed more than 11,000 hectares of scrub, with the full loss of property, including livestock, fencing sheds and homes, yet to be determined.The blaze has already destroyed more than 11,000 hectares of scrub, with the full loss of property, including livestock, fencing sheds and homes, yet to be determined.
Among the confirmed losses is the Tea Tree Gully boarding kennel and cattery in the Adelaide Hills where at least 40 dogs and cats died.Among the confirmed losses is the Tea Tree Gully boarding kennel and cattery in the Adelaide Hills where at least 40 dogs and cats died.
The CFS also warned on Sunday of the danger now posed by trees that had already fallen or could fall over the next few days.The CFS also warned on Sunday of the danger now posed by trees that had already fallen or could fall over the next few days.
“This hazard places a huge risk on the community living or working in this area and is delaying the return of residents to their homes,” it said.“This hazard places a huge risk on the community living or working in this area and is delaying the return of residents to their homes,” it said.
The threat posed by the blaze to Adelaide’s north-eastern suburb, which reached its height on Friday night, was reduced on Sunday with winds now pushing the blaze away from homes in those areas.The threat posed by the blaze to Adelaide’s north-eastern suburb, which reached its height on Friday night, was reduced on Sunday with winds now pushing the blaze away from homes in those areas.
In Victoria, rain eased fire danger as residents returned to homes they were forced to leave on Saturday.In Victoria, rain eased fire danger as residents returned to homes they were forced to leave on Saturday.
Fire warnings have been downgraded across the state, but firefighters are still checking burned areas to make sure they’re safe.Fire warnings have been downgraded across the state, but firefighters are still checking burned areas to make sure they’re safe.
A band of lightning and high winds moved across Victoria on Saturday afternoon, bringing welcome relief in the form of rain, rather than new problems.A band of lightning and high winds moved across Victoria on Saturday afternoon, bringing welcome relief in the form of rain, rather than new problems.
“We were fortunate not to have any new major incidents,” a State Control Centre spokeswoman said on Sunday.“We were fortunate not to have any new major incidents,” a State Control Centre spokeswoman said on Sunday.
A fire that threatened the towns of Moyston and Maroona and burned more than 5,700ha is now under control.A fire that threatened the towns of Moyston and Maroona and burned more than 5,700ha is now under control.
The blaze in the foothills of the Grampians in west Victoria destroyed one home and forced residents to evacuate.The blaze in the foothills of the Grampians in west Victoria destroyed one home and forced residents to evacuate.
A fire in Hastings on Melbourne’s southeastern fringe burned fences but did not destroy any houses.A fire in Hastings on Melbourne’s southeastern fringe burned fences but did not destroy any houses.