Remote South Australia and Northern Territory attacked by gigantic outback fire
Remote parts of South Australia and the Northern Territory are on the receiving end of a colossal bushfire, which has ripped through an area larger than some countries, however it appears minimal people have noticed.
On the 8th February, the fire ignited near Ernabella in SA’s APY Lands, and has now gone through around 125,000 hectares – or 1,250 square kilometres – of scrub and pastoral land.
To put that into perspective, that area size is four times bigger than the Maldives, and close to twice as big as Tonga, Bahrain or Singapore.
After being driven by high temperatures and strong winds, the gigantic blaze has now crossed into the Northern Territory.
Peter Ikonomopoulos, a Country Fire Service staff officer, claimed that despite the size of the fire, there have been no reports of property damage in the isolated outback region.
Ikonomopoulos also said that Indigenous-led volunteer brigades were the first people on the scene.
“CFS crews from Ernabella, Amata and Mimili responded to the fire near Kenmore Park,” Ikonomopoulos said.
“Due to the ferocity and volume of the fire, more crews were called from Coober Pedy, Roxby Downs, Mintabie and Marla, to provide assistance.”
Police stated that additional personnel from Port Augusta assisted to try and provide relief.
Ikonomopoulos also said that contractors from the APY Lands and Ceduna had supplied machinery in order to put in earth breaks, which in turn will protect communities.
The CFS are hoping that the possibility of rain and favourable winds will cause the fire to burn back on itself, which will significantly ease the threat.
However, while the police are suggesting there is currently no danger to the Ernabella community, the CFS have claimed that firefighters were seriously battling hard ahead of a wind change, which could fan the fame’s in the direction of Ernabella.