Firefighters Combat Intense Bushfire South of Adelaide
Firefighters are actively combating a significant bushfire near Mount Compass, situated south of Adelaide. The blaze, known as the Tooperang fire, ignited around 4:30 PM on Sunday and has charred approximately 450 hectares of scrub and grassland.
Impact and Response
The Country Fire Service (CFS) has issued a “watch and act” alert for areas including Tooperang, Nangkita, Mount Jagged, and Mosquito Hill. Residents in these regions have been advised to take immediate action due to the fire’s uncontrolled state and its potential impacts on structures.
Currently, over 200 firefighters, along with more than 60 fire trucks, are deployed, aided by support from the Metropolitan Fire Service. Efforts to contain the fire have extended into the night to mitigate its spread.
Extent of Damage
- Fire location: Between Nangkita Road and Cleland Gully Road.
- Impact on structures: Damage has occurred, although the full extent remains uncertain.
- Conditions: High temperatures expected around 28°C, with shifting winds potentially escalating the situation.
Ben Pettman, a CFS state duty officer, indicated that crews were unable to assess the complete damage until daylight, which would provide clearer visibility of the impacted areas. Witness accounts from ABC reporter Caroline Horn reveal smoldering remnants of paddocks and a destroyed structure, with the precise nature of the building yet to be identified.
Fire Control Efforts
The fire is currently advancing in areas with challenging terrain, consisting of scrubland and grassland. It has not yet encroached upon Mount Magnificent or Cox Scrub conservation parks, but teams are striving to prevent any spread to these environmentally significant areas.
Despite the ongoing fire, Pettman assures that firefighting crews are diligently establishing control lines to curb the blaze’s progress, which has been moving south-west toward Cleland Gully Road. The situation remains volatile, compounded by strong winds that continue to fuel the flames.
This bushfire has generated a substantial volume of smoke, further complicating the response efforts. The CFS remains focused on containment strategies and will continue to monitor and assess the damage as conditions evolve.
