Is an Emergency Warning Active Due to a Grass Fire in South Australia?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Firefighters are actively working to contain the blaze.
- Residents in Tooperang and Nangkita are facing evacuation orders.
- The fire has affected over 650 hectares of land.
- Emergency services are collaborating to ensure community safety.
- Shifting winds may alter the fire's direction.
Canberra, Jan 19 (NationPress) A significant deployment of firefighters is underway to tackle a dangerous grass fire that poses a risk to lives and properties south of Adelaide in South Australia.
The blaze ignited near the town of Tooperang, approximately 50 km south of Adelaide, on Sunday afternoon, consuming around 650 hectares of grassland and scrub, according to the Country Fire Service (CFS).
Residents in Tooperang and the nearby community of Nangkita were ordered to evacuate immediately on Sunday night; however, the emergency alert was downgraded on Monday, advising residents to prepare for evacuation instead, as reported by Xinhua.
"Act swiftly, as this bushfire may jeopardize your safety," warned the CFS in its advisory.
The fire is advancing southward toward Nangkita and the nearby areas of Mount Jagged and Mosquito Hill, which together housed around 600 residents during the last national census in 2021.
Over 200 volunteer firefighters from the CFS, supported by more than 60 fire trucks, worked tirelessly through the night to contain the fire.
CFS fire crews, in collaboration with the South Australian Police and the South Australian Ambulance Service, will continue efforts to curb the fire's spread and mitigate its impact on the local community. Firefighting operations will persist throughout the day.
CFS officer Ben Pettman stated to ABC that anticipated shifts in wind direction on Monday could cause rapid changes in the fire's behavior.