SA launches bushfire safety campaign
26 October 2019
Published by https://7news.com.au
AUSTRALIA – Now is not the time for South Australians to get complacent amid dangerous conditions that could spark a fire similar to recent blazes in New South Wales and Queensland, emergency services say.
South Australia launched their bushfire safety campaign for the upcoming fire season on Sunday, with the Country Fire Service urging people to be prepared for summer.
“If you are going to stay and defend your property, you need to be well prepared, with gutters cleared, vegetation well maintained and a robust plan,” CFS chief officer Mark Jones said.
He said it’s possible SA could see a bushfire on the same level as recent blazes in NSW and Queensland, given the hot and dry conditions.
Nearly 1200 firefighters were battling 85 blazes in NSW on Sunday. Earlier in the month, fires killed two people and destroyed 64 homes and 150 outbuildings in the state.
In September, bushfires destroyed properties and forced evacuations in Queensland’s Gold Coast hinterland, Granite Belt and Sunshine Coast regions.
On Thursday, five SA firefighters were treated for heat stress while battling a bushfire in the Murraylands, as Adelaide endured its hottest day since March.
Emergency services minister Corey Wingard said SA hasn’t had a large fire in a few years, but that doesn’t mean people should become complacent.
“It’s so important to talk to your family and friends about your plan, and know where you will go and how to get there,” he said.