AdelaideNow... Code red as 10,500 CFS volunteers prepare for major bushfire risk
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FIREFIGHTERS are bracing themselves for the worst fire danger since the fatal Black Tuesday fires on Eyre Peninsula in 2005.
All the state's 10,500 volunteer firefighters are on standby as hot and windy conditions sweep the state ahead of a cool change this afternoon.
Temperatures above 40C have been forecast across the state, including 41C in Adelaide, and northwesterly winds of up to 90km/h have been predicted ahead of a cool change this afternoon.
Country Fire Service chief officer Euan Ferguson yesterday warned that the winds and heat would provide dangerous conditions if a fire sparked.
Even after the change, the forecast 50km/h winds from the southwest could quickly change the path of a fire, he said.
"Over the next 72 hours, south-eastern Australia will be facing an unprecedented period of extreme fire danger," he said yesterday.
"For South Australia we believe the fire danger forecast for Saturday will be as extreme as we have seen since the Wangary (2005) fire."
The temperature peaked at 43C late yesterday afternoon.
Mr Ferguson urged all residents – including those in the city – to alter any planned activities in bushfire-prone areas.
He said residents should review their bushfire action plans and urged anyone with questions to visit the CFS website www.cfs .sa.gov.au or call its bushfire hotline on 1300 362 361.
The CFS has seven fixed-wing water bombers and four heli-tankers on standby across the state, including aircraft based in the South-East, Port Lincoln and Mount Lofty Ranges.
Total fire bans were declared in all of SA's 15 fire ban districts.
National parks and reserves in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Fleurieu Peninsula will be closed until midnight. However, Mount Lofty Summit, Cleland Wildlife Park and the Belair National Park recreation zone will be open.
Metropolitan Fire Service chief officer Grant Lupton said city residents also needed to take care in the hot, windy conditions.
He said "acts of stupidity", such as smokers throwing cigarette butts out the window, were still occurring.
On the West Coast, students in Wirrulla, near Streaky Bay, have to endure the full brunt of the heat, travelling 20km to and from Miltaburra Area School each day on buses that have no airconditioning.
Parent Kathy Macfarlane says her children, Brody and Nash, are subjected to temperatures of up to 57C on the bus.
"I got sent a warning about extreme temperatures on my mobile phone saying we should stay indoors, but then the kids have to catch the bus without airconditioning," she said.
I move on Tuesday - Seems I just have to survive one last day in the hills... For Adelaide people here is the link to the CFS paging service.
http://www.sacfs.org/paging/