Bushfire in SA’s south-east poses risk
Bushfire in SA’s south-east poses risk
1 December 2006
published by www.smh.com.au
Australia — Fire authorities say a fire burning near Mt Gambier, in SouthAustralia’s south-east, could pose a threat to public safety.
More than 130 firefighters have converged on a blaze burning at Burrungule,as it heads in a south-easterly direction towards the town of Compton.
The Country Fire Service (CFS) has advised residents to take shelter in theirhomes or in a solid structure.
They also said the Princes Highway had been closed in the area.
“The fire is burning in a pine forest and is currently around 150hectares in size,” the CFS said.
“More than 130 volunteer firefighters are on the scene assisted by threeaerial water bombing aircraft.”
The south-east blaze was just one of several occupying firefighters acrossSA.
A major concern was a series of fires burning in the Riverland which haddestroyed more than 30,000 hectares of scrub after being sparked by lightning onMonday.
A CFS spokeswoman said about 125 firefighters were deployed to the area onThursday and more have since joined the battle.
Work on Friday morning included strengthening of control lines on thesouthern boundary through a backburning operation.
The CFS said other fires were burning at Bog Lane in the south-east of thestate, in the Hincks Conservation Park on the Eyre Peninsula and in thePinkawillinie Conservation Park on the west coast.
