A LEADING Country Fire Service (CFS) officer has labelled the start to the 2019/20 bushfire season as the “busiest he can remember” with several fires breaking out across South Australia.
Kingsley group officer Grant Fensom praised the volunteer firefighters who have worked tirelessly during November and December to keep the community safe.
“We have certainly been under the pump, particularly recently where people have been giving up their personal time to assist,” Mr Fensom said.
“It makes me quite proud when the same people continue to put their hand up to help and they should be commended for their efforts.”
Those efforts were on display on Friday afternoon when 10 units from Region 5 CFS and a further four forestry units were called to a blaze which broke out in crops near Kongorong.
“Our volunteers on the ground did an amazing job to get that fire under control quickly and reduce the damage to around 20 hectares,” Mr Fensom said.
“It started in barley crops as a result of a mower fire.”
Mr Fensom said fortunately conditions were favourable and allowed the firefighters to contain the blaze by the early evening.
“We stayed on scene for a while because we just wanted to make sure we did not have any further flare ups,” Mr Fensom said.
“I think I left at around 6pm.”
Mr Fensom said recent events – such as Friday’s minor fire – have highlighted the need for more volunteer fire fighters across the state.
“There is only so much people can do and we just need to get our teeth into finding more members,” Mr Fensom said.
“Our country has been battered this season, we have had units from here travel to New South Wales this year and we have sent another crew up to the Adelaide Hills today.”
He said the demand can take its toll on the volunteers.
“Those fires in New South Wales started around September, so we’re close to five months of relentless fire activity in our country,” he said.
“What people forget is that our volunteers do not just pick up a hose and fight fires, it’s all the little extra things that go on behind the scenes.”
Mr Fensom said the fire fighting community was appreciative of the praise they received from the general public, however he challenged everyone to take it a step further.
“The thank you’s are there and we appreciate them, but now the ‘thanks’ needs to be backed up by those people getting involved,” he said.
“Even some of the stronger brigades are finding it hard at this time of year, everyone needs more members.”
Fires rage on extreme Monday
Extreme fire conditions had Country Fire Service volunteers on high alert yesterday with a number of blazes starting across the Lower South East.
Residents in the area of Keilira – around 30km west of Padthaway – were told to Watch and Act as a fire burned through more than 15,000 hectares by press-time yesterday.
The fire was raised to a Level 2 incident just after 3pm as over 30 firefighter crews and aircraft actively worked on the blaze which was burning in scrub and grass.
Local road closures were put in place including Rowney Road which runs from the Riddoch Highway to Kingston.
It is believed the blaze was started by dry lightning.
A property at OB Flat had a close call yesterday when a fire broke out next to Glenelg River Road at around 1.45pm, just 20 metres from a home.
CFS crews from the Mount Gambier and Kingsley groups were quick to respond and extinguish the fire, which burned a small amount of scrub on the roadside.
Bunbury fire continues to burn
A fire which has destroyed more than 7300 hectares between Keith and the Coorong continued to burn in extreme conditions yesterday.
The blaze started in the Bunbury Conservation Reserve on December 20.
The fire has been burning in sandy terrain, making access difficult, and there are multiple hot spots.
The fire was active in the south western section however remained within the main control lines.
Despite the work of ground crews there were fears that with the forecast winds yesterday the fire would expand in size.
Property owners in the area were advised to be alert to the changing conditions and to be prepared.
Across the border
Property owners in the vicinity of Dartmoor and Digby remain on alert, despite the major fires being declared contained late last week.
After burning 2966 hectares the fire near the Crawford River was contained on Friday.
Emergency service crews and heavy equipment continued to strengthen containment lines as weather conditions worsened yesterday.
Despite no longer posing a threat to communities or properties, members of the public were encouraged to stay informed and monitor conditions.
