Feature image by Marco Callisto
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The CFS has been battling a major bushfire that started just after 4pm in the Adelaide Hills yesterday.
More than 400 firefights are trying to contain a major fire that originated in Cherry Gardens, Hicks Hill Road, where a Watch and Act message still remains.
A linescan aircraft that undertook an imaging flight overnight recorded over 2500ha burnt. The fire conditions have proven to be erratic with the weather pushing it in multiple directions.
Crews are made up of personnel from CFS, MFS, DEW and SA Forestry and are being supported by personnel from SA Police, SA Ambulance Service, the State Emergency Service and heavy plant.
While the weather was favourable overnight with low wind speeds allowing for some direct attack and backburning, the fire is burning in inaccessible terrain with heavy fuels. Much of this fire’s edge is still active.
Whilst rain is forecast to fall on the fireground today, it is unlikely to be enough to extinguish the fire and gusts associated with approaching rain and thunderstorms may increase fire behaviour.
This fire is expected to be active for at least several days.
Residents over the Adelaide Hills and parts of the metropolitan area will have woken to heavy smoke. The CFS are advising the community to take care on the roads as visibility will be reduced, while at home close all windows and doors and stay inside.
A community meeting will be held today at 11am at the Echunga Football Club, Echunga Road, Echunga. CFS and SA Police will be presenting at this meeting to provide community information on the current situation and plans.
There are a number of road closures in the areas surrounding the fires which the community should avoid. The South Eastern Freeway is open and unaffected. Road closures can be found at traffic.sa.gov.au.
As of 8.02am, an Emergency Warning has been issued for Longwood, Mylor, and Biggs Flat in Mount Lofty Ranges.
The warning is for a bushfire burning under severe or extreme weather conditions and may pose a threat to lives directly in its path.
The CFS warning is to act now, leave if the path is clear to a safer place as it will soon be too dangerous to drive.
If you cannot leave, identify where you will seek shelter from the bushfire. Heat from the fire will kill you. Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous.
The CHERRY GARDENS, HICKS HILL ROAD fire is uncontrolled. This scrub fire is burning in a North Easterly direction towards Longwood, Mylor and Biggs Flat and conditions are continually changing.
People in the area should leave now or prepare to defend their homes before the wind changes direction. Power, water and mobile phone services may be lost. Road conditions may become very dangerous over the next few hours.
Fire fighters may soon be unable to prevent the fire spreading.
As of 12.55pm there is a Bushfire Advice Message issued for CHERRY GARDENS, HICKS HILL ROAD near Longwood, Mylor, Biggs Flat, Scott Creek, Chapel Hill, Cherry Gardens and Mount Bold in the Mount Lofty Ranges: If you are in this area stay alert, monitor local conditions and decide what you will do if the situation changes. At this time there is no threat to life or property and firefighters are attending this fire.
As of 10.14am there is a Bushfire Watch and Act message issued for Heathfield, Longwood, Mylor, Bradbury, Biggs Flat, Scotts Creek, Cherry Gardens, Mount Bold, Chapel Hill in the Mount Lofty Ranges
As of 9.09am, there is a Bushfire Watch and Act message issued for Coromandel East, Cherry Gardens, Scott Creek, Kangarilla, Mount Bold, Jupiter Creek, Chapel Hill, Bradbury in the Mount Lofty Ranges
As of 7.03am there is a Bushfire Watch and Act message issued for Clarendon, Cherry Gardens in Mount Lofty Ranges.
The CFS warning is to take actin now as the bushfire may threaten safety. If you are not prepared, leave now and if the path is clear go to a safer place.
Take action now as this bushfire may threaten your safety. If you are not prepared, leave now and if the path is clear, go to a safer place. Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous.
Joan’s Pantry in Hawthorndene is offering free coffee to emergency personnel fighting.
Lenox Avenue ADL in Coromandel offering free coffee to emergency personnel.
WHAT TO DO:
Check and follow your Bushfire Survival Plan
Decide what you will do if the situation changes
Look and listen for information on television, radio, internet, mobile phones and by speaking with neighbours
KEEP UP TO DATE:
CFS website : cfs.sa.gov.au
Bushfire Information Hotline 1800 362 361
For hearing or speech impaired users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 1800 362 361
For teletype service TTY 133 677
CFS on Facebook or Twitter
On local ABC radio, FIVEaa, or one of our other Emergency Broadcast Partners.
Do not rely on a single source for warning information.
For emergencies call Triple Zero (000)
GALLERY
Photo Credit: Richard Pascoe 
Photo Credit: Ben Heide 
Photo Credit: Marco Callisto 
Long exposure of aircraft loop around the fire. Photo Credit: Ben Heide 
Photo Credit: Harvest the Fleurieu 
Photo Credit: Neely Karimi 
Photo Credit: Sam O’Leary 
Photo Credit: Bash Diss (@bash_diss) 
Photo Credit: Michael (@mlztiu) 
Photo Credit: Tariq’s Photography (@tariqs_photography) 
Photo Credit: Joe Nes (@joeyjoenes) 
Photo Credit: Juan Jose Z (@juanjzee) 
Photo Credit: Samantha Lodge (@samanthalodgephotography) 
Photo Credit: Riley Williams (@rileyy.williams)
Contact the Country Fire Service in your area.
Phone the Bushfire Information Hotline on 1800 362 36 for information regarding active bushfires in a particular area, BBQs, camp fires, fire bans, Fire Ban Districts and restrictions, bushfire safety and burning off.
For hearing or speech impaired users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 1800 362 361
For teletype service TTY 133 677
On local ABC radio, FIVEaa, or one of our other Emergency Broadcast Partners.
Create your own 5 minute bushfire plan.
Do not rely on a single source for warning information.
Australian Fires Bushfire Map – Apple
Get Prepared: Apple – Google Play
If you find an unattended fire: 000
If you require more info, call the Bushfire Hotline – 1800 362 361
If you find an injured animal:
RSPCA Animal rescue 24 hour hotline – 1300 4 777 22
Fauna Rescue 24 hour hotline – 08 8289 0896
Koala rescue hotline – 1300 KOALAS (1300 562 527)
Bat rescue hotline – 0475 132 093
Duckling hotline – 0412 810 345
PIRSA 24 hour bushfire hotline: 1800 255 556
The CFS volunteer their time and risk their lives to help us save properties, and most importantly, lives. Donations can be made to the CFS Foundation at this link: http://www.cfsfoundation.org.au/
SAVEM: South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (SAVEM) Inc is a volunteer Response and Recovery agency working under Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) within the State Emergency Management Plan. SAVEM’s broad mission is to retrieve, assess, triage, shelter and treat animals of all species in an emergency incident. https://www.savem.org.au/about-savem/donate/
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