bushfires in SA

[Eevo]

No Cookies | The Advertiser (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/premier-jay-weatherill-announces-loss-of-lives-from-deadly-sa-bushfires/story-fnl1ee8j-1227623145573)


AT least two people are dead and there were fears of a third fatality last night in the monstrous bushfire that incinerated homes and farming properties across a 40km front north of Adelaide On Wednesday.

The two people known to have died in the Mid North disaster perished in a car at Hamley Bridge and a paddock at Pinery. Another person is also feared to have died in a car at Freeling.


At least two firefighters were seriously injured. One was fighting for his life with third-degree burns last night after being rescued from the fireground by police.

Livestock was also lost and there were unconfirmed reports that thousands of animals had perished at a piggery.

By 10pm, the fire had burned through almost 100,000ha and its perimeter, including part of the Barossa Valley, measured more than 200km.

A strong, swirling wind that came ahead of a cool change put a firefighting army of more than 500 under enormous pressure as it fanned flames that had started on a day of intense heat. Strike teams from Victoria will arrive on Thursday to join the effort.

[Eevo]

i just got back from my strike team.
Sampson flat was a picnic compared to today.

2 low lights of the day
- having our command car being hit by car whose driver was high on meth
- securing one of the fatalities.

some of the high lights of the day
- saving wasleys primary school and the people inside
- reassuring a little kid that everything is ok.
- the courage and generosity shown by people, from one stranger to another.
- then the power went out, the pub owner came out and offered us beer, as they were just going to go warm. we politely declined but the offer really made us smile.

[JDNSW]

That weather is due to go through here today, but if the forecast is correct, won't be nearly as bad. However, hopefully there will be no sparks!

John

[Homestar]

Good work Eevo, and to all the other Volunteers out there at the moment doing their bit. I hope it's bought under control soon without any more loss of life and that everyone on the forum that lives in that area - there are a few, are all ok.

[Sitec]

Yup, that fire was an animal. Got in at 2am, and it was by no means out. Farm after farm after farm devastated. Hamley Bridge lost many houses. It moved so quickly, especially across uncut crop. Off out this morning to help with the clear up.

[flyinglandrover]

Appreciate your efforts Eevo! You certainly see the best and worst of people in those situations!

[bblaze]

got a sister in nurri so thanks
cheers
blaze

[Ausfree]

Good on you Eevo, we owe a lot to the firies!! Is any interstate help coming in???

[Eevo]

Good on you Eevo, we owe a lot to the firies!! Is any interstate help coming in???

vic firefighter started arriving today
nsw sent a DC10 water bomber yesterday

[spudboy]

200 Victorians are on their way....

[bee utey]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=102355&stc=1&d=1448490254

[digger]

200 vic firefighters are expected this am and probably onto fireground this arvo

The Sturt hwy was closed to traffic from the swan reach turnoff at Blanchetown down to
Gawler. 1000s of bales burnt in sheds and still burning in paddocks, 1000s of pigs at a piggery at Pinery when it was hit before theycould do anything (moving very fast) grain mills,feed mills etc etc.. A lotof crop stillonthe stalk in paddocks..

And comms was compromised badly by the loss of ph towers on which the govt radio
is piggy backed.

85000 hectares burnt, more than 16 homes, lots of sheds. Winds gusting to 90 kph made it much worse. Soot and smoke passed thick over as far as Loxton!

Well done Eevo,Sitec and all others on the trucks or involved in any way. I got called away from preparing a strike team at 3pm to go in to work and close the hwy until this morning.

I would think there are possibly Aulro members in the areas hit.

Keep safe in eastern states with this weather!

To give an idea of the size of this fire.. the edge of the burning fire at 11pm last night was estimated at @ 220km long... straighten it out and thats thats acontinuous line of fire from Adelaide to Port Pirie when you put the firetrucks etc spread out on this line theyd hardly even see each other.. and that is the edge only.

[Ausfree]

Thanks for the info Digger, if any AULRO members are in the area PLEASE stay safe!!!

[Bytemrk]

Stay safe all our SA friends, while it sounds like things are improving over there, still lots of dangers across the fire ground.

I think all of us are thinking of friends and other AULRO members in the area.... Take care folks... especially Evo, Sitec, Digger and anyone else directly involved in fighting this thing...

[Sitec]

A little view of the Pinary Fire.

[Sitec]

Saw many barns like this. Quite a few sadly are people I know thru work.

[Sitec]

One of many tractors lost.. There was a header, field bin and another tractor with this one...

[Sitec]

Today was spent helping Darren (friend and employer) get this mess cleared up/organised, and made safe. Then it was back to the workshop to strip out the pump on our 34 appliance.. Gland seal let go late last night.