For the first time in more than 20 years, the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has finished a full bushfire season without losing a single house or structure.
Crews fought 1,340 country fires between November and 30 April and had a number of close calls, including last week’s blaze near Meningie which destroyed 530 hectares and came within a few metres of properties.
CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin says he is proud of the work of the state’s 13,500 volunteers to protect lives and property.
“It’s a good result, and something we’re very pretty proud of and it’s only achievable thanks to the amazing men and women who make up our agency… their work is tireless, it’s professional and it’s what has seen us be able to achieve what we have this season,” Brett Loughlin said in an ARN Radio interview this morning with Adam Connelly and Jennie Lenman.
“If you know anyone who’s a volunteer in the CFS, give them a part on the back, give them thanks because they are some of the best people we have to offer in this State and they do amazing things every day, so – thank you.”
He has also attributed the success of the season to technological improvements and the new aerial firefighting fleet in South Australia.
“The extra aviation fleet has been a real gamechanger for us. The support of having a Black Hawk helicopter over on the Eyre Peninsula, another one in Mount Gambier and two in the Hills, as well as the fantastic fixed wing bombing fleet and our aviation support aircraft… I mean its just incredible,” said Brett Loughlin.
Hear more from Brett Loughlin in his ARN interview with Jennie Lenman and Adam Connelly via the audio play window below:
