GIANT wind turbines worth several million dollars were undamaged by fires on the surrounding grazing land at German Flat near Tantanoola over the weekend.
The first blaze was reported at around 11pm on Saturday and burnt approximately 40 hectares (100 acres) of pasture land, damag-ing stock feed and fencing.
It was contained by 4.30am and mopping up by the Tantanoola Country Fire Service (CFS) crew continued for a further four hours.
The blaze produced significant smoke for several hours and people in the area were advised by the CFS to stay indoors and to close all windows when smoke was present.
The CFS had eight fire trucks and three bulk water tankers in attendance and were assisted by private farm fire units and council bulk water tankers.
At 10am on Sunday, the CFS again responded when it received reports of trees being alight at German Flat.
The third call-out to German Flat occurred at 1pm on Sunday and it was to a re-kindle.
Ground crews and two Mount Gambier-based fire bombers and an air attack helicopter were mobilised.
Around six CFS trucks and water tanker were summoned back to the area and the volunteer fire-fighters were on duty until 9.30pm.
The CFS was back at German Flat again yesterday (Monday) and patrolled the area and applied water to so-called “hot spots”.
Wattle Range CFS group officer Fred Stent said there was little damage caused by the various blazes and even most of the wire fencing of the paddocks was unaffected.
Mr Stent expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by volunteer fire-fighters from the neighbouring CFS groups at Kingsley and Mount Gambier.
“Some of the fire-fighters were on duty on both Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon but some were able to arrange swaps,” Mr Stent said.
Fire cause investigators attended the scene on Sunday but no findings were yet known at the time of publication.
