Grain combusting in wake of SA fire
Grain stored on farms hit by South Australia’s devastating bushfire has been spontaneously combusting days after the blaze was bought under control.
A burnt paddock near Freeling in the mid-north of South Australia. AAP Image/Brenton Edwards
About 82,000 hectares of mostly cropping land, hundreds of farm buildings and houses and pieces of machinery were destroyed by the bushfire in SA’s mid north last week.
But some farmers are continuing to lose grain as it spontaneously catches alight when moved.
The CFS says when grain – still hot from the fire – is disturbed, oxygen can cause it to ignite.
“We understand the farmers are trying to save what grain they have left but they need to take care to ensure they don’t cause more damage,” Grain Producers SA chairman Darren Arney said on Monday.
The CFS says small flare-ups continue within the fire’s 265km perimeter and strong winds could cause it to break containment lines.
Severe fire danger ratings and total fire bans have been declared for large parts of the state on Monday as temperatures reach the mid 30s in the mid north and into the 40s in some outback centres.
Another blaze has been sparked near Kimba on Eyre Peninsula where the CFS says a haystack is burning.
The blaze is not a threat to people or property but may reduce visibility on surrounding roads.
Police say visibility on the Horrocks Highway, Sturt Highway and Thiele Highway is “significantly reduced”.
– with AAP
