CFS raises complacency alarm

January 15, 2010

The Moorak CFS Brigade captain has issued a warning to landowners who refuse to clean up their overgrown properties that firefighters will not enter the areas during a bushfire.

Fed-up and alarmed over the continual apathy of some local landowners, Moorak firefighting veteran John Beimans called on landowners to act immediately and clean up overgrown vegetation and remove large items scattered around their properties. Read more

Children started house fires

January 6, 2010

Young children have accidentally started two South East house fires in the past week, sparking the emergency services to call for parents not to leave kids alone with electrical appliances.

On Sunday morning the kitchen of a house on Poole Street, Millicent, was destroyed, with the bill at around $50,000. Read more

Car caught fire at Tarpeena

December 31, 2009

Country Fire Service crews believe a busted fuel line was responsible for a car fire on the Riddoch Highway at Tarpeena during Wednesday afternoon’s blistering 38-degree heat.

Tarpeena CFS brigade captain Peter Balnaves said he was unsure exactly how the vehicle caught alight, but suspected a petrol leak came into contact with the hot exhaust and combusted. Read more

CFS adds new fire warning service

December 30, 2009

With South Australia expecting a long hot summer, the Country Fire Service has launched a new service that increases the availability and functionality of bushfire information for the public.

CFS Chief Officer Euan Ferguson said that providing timely information to the community about bushfire threats is almost as important as fighting the fire itself. Read more

Firefighter health warning

December 29, 2009

As firefighters fought a hay blaze in trying conditions with heat over 39 degrees and wind gusts of 72kmh on Wednesday, a first aider warned volunteers to take care as the threat of more fires increases with the onset of summer.

Port MacDonnell community emergency response team leader Denise Gower assisted ambulance personnel at the scene to protect the wellbeing of firefighters, offering water, refreshments, oxygen and space to rest away from the smoke and heat. Read more

Kingston fire contained

December 23, 2009

The CFS advises that the threat to public safety posed by the Kingston fire near Taratap and Keliera in the Lower South East has reduced.

Crews will remain in the area and smoke will be visible as back burning operations continue. Travelling in the area may be hazardous.

For more information contact the bushfire hotline on 1300 362 361. Read more

Fire destroys Allendale East home

December 23, 2009

A house fire at Allendale East this morning caused about $100,000 damage, while the residents were out.

The blaze took hold of the home on the corner of Williams and Mortimer Streets, in the Allendale East township, at about 8.30am.

Port MacDonnell, Allendale East, Donovans, Mount Schank and Moorak Country Fire Service crews attended, but the house was reportedly burnt beyond repair. Read more

Victorian fire conditions extreme

December 15, 2009

The Country Fire Authority has warned an extreme fire weather forecast exists for Wimmera and Western Victorian districts on Wednesday

Fire danger is set to rise to extreme in the Wimmera and Western districts on Wednesday, with severe conditions forecast for northern and central parts of the state. Read more

Council tidies up for fire season

December 9, 2009

Grant District Council has issued notices to nearly 100 properties within its townships to clean up overgrowth as the fire season gets under way.

Council has also purchased several 45,000 litre water tanks to be placed around the district for use in emergencies. Read more

Hopper fire causes $30,000 damage

December 7, 2009

Hopper fire
A sawdust hopper fire at the Heritage Industries Mount Gambier timber mill on Attumurra Road on Monday morning caused an estimated $30,000 damage. Read more

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