Let’s get high.

The fire at Kangaroo Island (KI) continues to intensify due to the bad weather conditions. Dry hot temperature with unfavorable strong winds aids the fire spread, and containment seems to be tougher.

KANGAROO Island firefighters are likely to miss out on the forecast rains they need to help them beat back blazes that have burned for nine days.

On Kangaroo Island , residents near a huge fire ravaging the Flinders Chase National Park have been urged to either evacuate or prepare to defend their properties.

Many residents had relocated to emergency shelters at Parndana and Kingscote but at least 26 people told police and firefighters they would not leave their properties while they remained under threat.

Firefighters spent most of the morning saving the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre (i was there during the tour!) from destruction when the fires flared, prompting CFS chief executive Euan Ferguson to urge residents to either evacuate or prepare to defend
their properties.

Late last night the CFS issued the following Kangaroo Island fires update:

More than 80,000 hectares of mostly native vegetation has been destroyed since fires began on Kangaroo Island on December 6.

Four fires are going (Chase, Solly, D’Estrees and Central). The central fire was reclassified as going after several flare ups.

Aerial water bombing aircraft assisted with the suppression of spot fires that occurred during the day.

Chase Fire (Flinders Chase)

Size: 51, 000 hectares approx

Significant fire behaviour was reported on this fire today.

The western section of this fire breached the control line and moved south westerly in inaccessible terrain, and breached West Bay Road west of Rocky River.

The southern section of this fire has breached the control line and is yet to reach Sanderson Track control line. Firefighting efforts on asset protection in the Rocky River area have been successful.

The northern section of the Chase fire is progressing towards Cape Borda and has not crossed the Playford Highway.

Solly Fire (Western River)

Size: 3100 hectares approx

Crew are continuing with blacking out and patrolling perimeters.

D’estrees Fire

Size: 13 000 hectares approx

Significant fire behaviour was reported on this fire today.

Crew have been responding to flare ups, and will continue patrolling and blacking out along control lines.

Central Fire (Vivonne Bay)

Size: 5600 hectares approx

Some activity was reported with this fire again today.

Crews checked hot spots and conducted mopping up and patrolling.

Via AdelaideNow

80000 hectares of land burned away, that is wicked! If only the Singapore’s monsoon rain clouds can appear here to do Kangaroo Island a big favor. Let’s just continue to hope that the fire demon will be stopped real soon before more life lost/destructions.

Fireman fire fighting at KI, don’t give up!

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