‘Worst fire since Ash Wednesday’

Southern South Australia is facing the worst bushfire since the 1983 Ash Wednesday blaze.

Extreme conditions ... firefighters battle a blaze in Kersbrook, South Australia as the state faces its worse fire conditions since Ash Wednesday in 1983. Picture: Campbell Brodie. Source: Supplied

AUTHORITIES in South Australia believe dozens of homes have been destroyed in a ferocious and fast-moving bushfire.

The state faces the worst fire conditions since the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster, with high temperatures and strong winds hampering efforts to bring the blaze under control.

Worsening conditions ... South Australia is bracing for the worst fire conditions since the 1983 Ash Wednesday disaster. Picture: ABC TV/Twitter Source: Supplied

Residents of 19 towns in the Adelaide Hills region have been urged to leave their homes immediately, as the out-of-control bushfire threatens lives.

Bushfires also continue to threaten Melbourne's outer northwest, with conditions spiking above extreme ratings and into 'code red" territory.

More than 300 volunteer firefighters from New South Wales are now on their way to South Australia and Victoria to assist.

South Australia

Residents of 19 towns in the Adelaide Hills are being urged to leave immediately, with the Country Fire Service warning anyone in areas affected by the Sampson Flat fire to leave now.

Local volunteer firefighters put out a fire near property at risk on Stone Quarry Road, Kersbrook South Australia. Picture: Tom Huntley. Source: News Corp Australia

The areas include: Mount Pleasant, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Mount Torrens, Woodside, Lobethal, Inglewood, Upper Hermitage, Breakneck Hill, One Tree Hill township, Little Para Reservoir, Chain of Ponds, Houghton, Cudlee Creek, Lower Hermitage, Charleston, Birdwood, Lenswood, and Williamstown.

Premier Jay Weatherill has urged those impacted to leave their homes immediately.

"If you have a plan to leave, leave immediately," he said.

"If you've decided to stay, reconsider whether you are prepared and whether you're confident. If you've decided you're not, leave now if it's safe to do so."

The fire is likely to move northeast but all of its edges remain active and there are unpredictable wind gusts, the premier said.

So far, a confirmed five homes have been lost however the State Emergency Service warns it's likely dozens of properties have been destroyed.

Significant blaze ... reader Tori Arbon took this photo in Hillier, South Australia of the huge ploom of smoke from a major bushfire. Source: Supplied

One person who was believed to have been missing after seeking refuge in a dam near Mt Gawler Forest was found safe earlier today.

That rare piece of good news came as more than 500 firefighters fought the blaze in extreme conditions, with high temperatures and strong winds proving trying.

At least seven firefighters have been injured fighting the Sampson Flat fire in the Mount Lofty Ranges, as conditions worsen.

The CFS advises that fires burning under today's conditions are likely to be fast-moving and uncontrollable.

View of the deadly Sampson Flat fire from Range Road. Picture: Tom Huntley Source: News Corp Australia

CFS assistant chief officer Rob Sandford told Sky News that South Australia was likely "to see winds of 100 to 120km/h" today.

"Because of that, there's not a huge amount of direct fire-fighting activity being undertaken at the moment," he said.

"We will need to wait until the weather conditions abate and get better."

Huge scale ... an aerial view of the out-of-control Sampson Flat fire near Kersbrook. Picture Dylan Coker Source: News Corp Australia

The fire — which started on Friday afternoon at Sampson Flat — wreaked havoc as it spread towards Kersbrook before swinging back towards One Tree Hill, Greenwith and Golden Grove.

Co-ordinator Brenton Eden said the fire continued to present challenges as the day unfolded, with winds shifting and more hot temperatures expected.

"Conditions will worsen, they will not get better,'' he said.

A wind change from an easterly to northerly direction has caused the fire to burn in numerous directions, causing smoke to blanket large parts of metropolitan Adelaide.

The CFS said the Sampson Flat fire was "travelling in a very erratic manner".

Victoria

Firefighters are battling new fires in Victoria's west after storms swept the area. The cause of the fires is unknown but a lightning band has been blamed for many new fires in the region.

Watch and act warnings have been issued for townships including Dimboola and Edenhope, with fast-travelling bushfires in the area.

Residents have been told to leave before conditions worsen.

Crews are continuing to work on the major Moyston bushfire, which is threatening homes at Moyston and Maroona. A residence in Moyston has been destroyed by fire.

An out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes southeast of Melbourne.

Trains have been suspended between Frankston and Stony Point as the Hastings fire burns towards homes in the Seaglades Lane area.

The Country Fire Authority says there is a medium-sized bushfire travelling quickly in a southerly direction from Reid Parade towards the Warringine Park.

Earlier today, Victorians were urged to leave high-risk bushfire areas as extreme conditions fuel potentially life-threatening fires.

Moyston fires ... local farmer Phillip Grellet surveys the burnt-out land while helping a fellow farmer as a fire still burns in the background. Picture: David Caird Source: News Corp Australia

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said Victoria's extreme temperatures and an expected wind change will combine to make the fire danger extreme.

He warned that the area most at risk of the spike in conditions includes the corner from Warrnambool to Horsham and Bendigo to Geelong.

"These areas are dry and experiencing high winds and because of the changing forecast there is a spike in the conditions from midmorning into the afternoon," Mr Lapsley said on Saturday.

He said Victorians needed to be aware of what fires were doing in their area.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

‘Worst fire since Ash Wednesday’

Dengan url

http://segarasa.blogspot.com/2015/01/aworst-fire-since-ash-wednesdaya.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

‘Worst fire since Ash Wednesday’

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

‘Worst fire since Ash Wednesday’

sebagai sumbernya