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Fire alert near Gawler

The CFS has downgraded the threat of a fire burning at Kangaroo Flat six kilometres from Gawler, amid what it called one of the most challenging days since the 2019-20 fire season.

Feb 24, 2023, updated Feb 24, 2023
The most recent CFS map of the downgraded fire threat near Gawler. Image: CFS

The most recent CFS map of the downgraded fire threat near Gawler. Image: CFS

The Country Fire Service at 11.23am issued an emergency warning message for a stubble and hay bale fire at Kangaroo Flat, Redbanks Road in Adelaide’s lower Mid-North.

At the time, the CFS said the fire was uncontrolled and burning in a southerly direction towards Ward Belt and Gawler.

However, in an update issued at 11.59am, the CFS said it had “halted the forward rate of spread” of the fire.

It has since reduced the threat level from an emergency warning to an advice message.

“The threat of this fire has reduced, however people are reminded to take care in the area. Smoke will reduce visibility on the roads and there is a risk of falling trees and branches,” the CFS said at 12.13pm. 

“This fire is causing smoke to drift in the direction of Kangaroo Flat, Ward Belt and Gawler townships which includes the Northern Expressway area(s).”

Six aircraft and 21 CFS crews were deployed to fight the blaze. That has since been downgraded to just 12 crews and farm fighting units.

“The hay bales will continue to burn for several hours, and crews will remain at the scene until the fire is fully extinguished,” the CFS said at 12.53pm. 

Redbanks Road was closed but has since reopened.

“Smoke may continue to impact roads in the area, including the Northern Expressway, and visibility may be reduced,” the CFS said. 

A map of the original fire area around 11.30am today. Image: CFS

Fire crews were also battling another fire at Midgee on the Eyre Peninsula.

It comes as SA swelters through a fifth day of high temperatures, with the mercury forecast to hit 40C in Adelaide on Friday.

Extreme fire danger was declared across eight SA regions from Eyre Peninsula to the lower southeast.

This morning, CFS state duty commander Ray Jackson said firefighters were facing some of the most challenging conditions since the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

“Today’s probably one of the most challenging days we’ve had since the 2019-20 fire danger season,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“We’re expecting some really hot and dry conditions right across the state, coupled with some dry lightning which has the potential to cause fires.

He said increasing fuel loads over a wet winter have added to the danger.

“Because we’ve had such a good year there is an increased fuel load across the state,” he said.

“The more fuel we have, the more intense the fire is if something gets going, so it takes more time to be able to extinguish that fire.

“Because of the type of the season we’ve had, it’s taken us a long time to get to the point where the fuels are as dry as they are now.

“So the issue is that people haven’t potentially prepared like they would have normally prepared for days like today which are significant days.”

Jackson said dangerous fire weather could last through February and March.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Vince Rowlands said there was also the prospect of dry lightening causing fires later in the afternoon.

“There is a bit of wind around, and with these very hot conditions and that change coming through it just makes conditions very awkward for the CFS is anything does get going,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

He said the cool change was expected to arrive around 4.30pm to 5pm.

-With AAP

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