LIGHTNING strikes from the weekend’s storms started 14 fires across the Mid Murray region – including some still burning – and several in the Riverland West area.
Mid Murray CFS group officer Graeme Ward said at the weekend’s peak, over 90 firefighters were attending the incidents.
“We had appliances and personnel from the Mid Murray, the Barossa, Para Group, Ridley, and Sedan, Cambrai and Keyneton units called out, while Riverland units were busy with their own incidents upriver,” he said.
“The fires were sparked in scrubland, conservation parks and in some crops. Fortunately, there was no structure or stock damage, but we did see some crops lost.
“Personnel were working until 4am Monday to contain the fires; then we swapped staff, had a break for a few hours, and went back out.”
At the time of print, all the weekend fires were still burning “to some extent”, Mr Ward said.
“We’ve had people attending the fires since they were first called, and a plane (was) flying the area to keep an eye out for any more,” he said.
Meanwhile, Waikerie Country Fire Service (CFS) captain Shaun Arnold said while the winter months had seen few incidents in the region, the past week has been “hectic”.
“If the last week is anything to go by, we’re going to have a busy summer,” he said.
“Fire danger season is in full force now, so burn-offs are banned, and anyone caught conducting a burn-off can expect a hefty fine.”
Waikerie CFS officers were called out to a hay shed fire on West Boundary Road last Monday, November 9.
About 30 new season hay bales were lost in the fire, the cause of which is currently being determined.
The next day, a fire was sparked from a weekend burn-off at a property on Playford Road, Sunlands.
Waikerie and Cadell CFS officers spent several hours getting the fire under control, which was burning through wood bark on the property.
On Wednesday, November 11, a fire was sparked on a property behind the Waikerie golf course, in spear grass.
“The fire was started by a youth driving an old car on his parents’ property,” Mr Arnold said.
“Six appliances with personnel from Waikerie and Cadell CFS units attended the scene, which we managed to put out before it reached the golf course.”
That afternoon, a lightning strike from Tuesday’s lightning storm spread in a property on New Well Centre Road.
“About 25km down New Well Centre Road, fire had gotten into some trees following the storm the day before,” Mr Arnold said.
“Six appliances and personnel from Waikerie, Cadell and Blanchetown units attended the scene, plus some farmers close by were helping out with water from their water tanks.
“The fire had gotten inside some of the trees and smouldered since the storm, and needed long supervision to make sure nothing would spread.”
Fire danger season is now in effect, and is in place until April 15, 2021.