CANBERRA, Jan 19 (NNN-AAP) – Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed, to contain an out-of-control grass fire that is threatening lives and homes, south of Adelaide, in the state of South Australia.
The fire started near the small town of Tooperang, 50 km south of Adelaide, yesterday afternoon, and had burned around 650 hectares of grass and scrub, said the Country Fire Service (CFS).
Residents of Tooperang and the nearby town of Nangkita were, last night, told to evacuate immediately, but the emergency warning was downgraded today, with residents instead told to prepare to leave.
“Take action now as this bushfire may threaten your safety,” the warning issued by the CFS said.
It said that, the fire was burning in a southerly direction towards Nangkita and the townships of Mount Jagged and Mosquito Hill, which had a combined population of around 600 people at the time of the 2021 national census.
More than 200 volunteer firefighters from the CFS supported by over 60 trucks worked through last night, to try and prevent the spread of the fire.
CFS officer, Ben Pettman, told the ABC that, shifting winds, forecast for today, would cause the fire to change directions at short notice.– NNN-AAP