STURT Highway drivers refusing to slow down when passing flashing emergency services lights have been blamed for impeding a Riverland CFS crew’s ability to properly combat a fire last week.
Waikerie CFS crews responded to a roadside fire on the Sturt Highway, near Waikerie, around 9.30am on Friday, June 11.
Waikerie CFS captain Shaun Arnold said it was likely the blaze was deliberately lit.
“It grew in size when we were on the way out there, and burnt about 10 or 12 hedge row pine trees,” Mr Arnold said.
“We’re unsure of what lit them up, but something did.
“The property owners said the fire was on the side of the road when they first noticed it, so something from a vehicle going past has ignited the fire, but what, we don’t know.
“At this time of year we wouldn’t expect it to happen, but so far this year we’ve only had 136mm of rain.”
However, Mr Arnold said numerous drivers passing by the scene refused to obey the required 25km/h speed limit.
“The main thing that hampered us was people, not truck drivers, but people who refused to slow down and would just fly through the smoke at great speed,” he said.
“The legal speed in South Australia is 25km/h past flashing lights… you must slow down until you pass all the red and blue flashing lights (and) people don’t understand that.
“Police weren’t available, so we’re out on the highway playing with cars that refuse to slow down, and our lives are being put in danger.
“At Waikerie it happens all the way up and down the highway.”
Mr Arnold advised Riverland motorists co-operation with emergency services was vital to ensure the safety of volunteers.
“They’ve got to remember to slow down, because we’re volunteers and we want to go home to our families at the end of the day, not end up in hospital,” he said.
“I’ve been doing this for 45 years and it hasn’t changed.”