Residents across the Mount Lofty Ranges, Murraylands and surrounding regions are being urged to remain vigilant as extreme heat and elevated fire danger conditions set in for the long weekend.
Today is a total fire ban day in the Mount Lofty Ranges (Friday 23rd January), with extreme fire danger conditions.
Saturday temperatures are forecast to reach 45°C in parts of the Murraylands, while highs in the upper 30s are expected across the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, with the potential for further total fire bans to be declared later today. While conditions are expected to ease slightly on Sunday, with a high fire danger rating and lower temperatures forecast, the scorching heat is set to return on Australia Day, Monday the 26th of January.
The CFS has issued a statement, urging travellers and residents to be prepared for anything.
“With hot and windy conditions forecast across the state this weekend and into early next week, there is a heightened risk of fires starting and spreading quickly,” the statement reads.
“Our CFS members are ready to respond over the weekend but we need you to do your part. Even if your district is not in ban today, you need to be prepared, stay informed, and where possible don’t do any activities that could spark a fire.”
The warnings come after a bushfire at Tooperang earlier this week destroyed at least three homes and burnt more than 660 hectares of grass and scrub, with vineyards, farmland and native vegetation also impacted.
Residents and visitors are being urged to have bushfire survival plans in place, stay informed, and avoid any activities that could spark a fire, even if their district is not under a total fire ban.
Fire danger ratings and total fire ban information can be checked on the CFS website.
