The SA bushfire danger season is starting two weeks early for metropolitan Adelaide, the Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island, the state government says.
Fire bans will start on Friday, November 15, in these districts as the SA (Country Fire Service) launched its Be Bushfire Ready awareness campaign.
The dates for bans were also brought forward for the Lower South East, Eastern Eyre and Upper South East districts or nearly half (six) of the state’s 15 fire ban districts.
The SA Government says forecast higher temperatures, dry conditions, below average rainfall and landscapes curing faster than usual during spring are factors behind the decision.
Emergency Services Minister Dan Cregan says the earlier start dates means South Australians must prepare now to ensure they have a plan in place.
“Conditions are particularly concerning and steps taken will help avoid further devastation in communities still recovering from past events,” he says.
CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin says it is “critical” that everyone knows what to do if a bushfire starts near them.
“Preparing for the bushfire season is a shared responsibility – CFS staff and volunteers dedicate months of training to be ready to protect their communities and are urging everyone to do their bit by getting their properties and bushfire plans ready,” he says.
SA Metropolitan Fire Service Chief Officer Jeff Swann says resident on the outskirts of Adelaide often wrongly assume they do not live in a bushfire risk area.
“During a bushfire, embers can travel kilometres ahead of the fire and can cause most houses to catch fire when sparks or burning embers settle on or around your home,” he explains.
“It is essential that people living on outskirts of Adelaide, Adelaide Hills and larger country towns plan what they will do when a bad fire day approaches – including where they will go, when they will leave, what they will take.”
The CFS says new research shows more than half of residents in a bushfire risk area are aware they are underprepared but have not taken active steps to address this.
Earlier this month the state and federal governments announced a new Blackhawk helicopter will be stationed at Parafield Airport. Five new aircraft have been added to the state’s 30+ aerial firefighting fleet.
More information is available at cfs.sa.gov.au/bushfire-ready