CFS: Sherwood fire a 'wake-up call' to South Australia
07/01/2018
Following the containment of the Sherwood fire at about 3:30 this morning, Country Fire Service (CFS) crews will continue monitoring the fire into the coming days as they work to extinguish the blaze.
Approximately 12,100 hectares have been burnt, and a number of homes and structures have been lost in the blaze, which started just after 1pm yesterday.
Damage assessment teams and crews from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA) are attending the fire ground to assess the total asset and stock losses, and the CFS will advise these findings when their reports are completed.
The South Australian Police (SAPOL) are investigating the cause of the fire.
CFS State Duty Commander Nik Stanley said he wanted to thank all crews and CFS personnel for their tireless work over the past 24 hours.
"Yesterday's Sherwood fire was a reminder of how quickly fire under severe to catastrophic weather conditions can get out of control.
"Due to the severe weather conditions at Sherwood, firefighters on the ground had to work defensively to protect assets until the fire conditions were safe enough for them to begin offensive operations," he said.
"Yesterday we saw reports of a number of people putting their Bushfire Survival Plans into place by leaving early in the day to get to a safer place. We urge all South Australians, whether you live in a bushfire area or not, to have your Bushfire Survival Plan in place, and to actively practice it.
"The Sherwood fire should be considered a wake-up call for all of South Australia as we head further into the 2017/18 Fire Danger Season," he said.
The CFS is now working with recovery efforts to help support the community, and are attempting to extinguish the fire before a warming trend later in the week.
Media crews on-scene are advised to check in at the Bordertown State Emergency Services facility on North Terrace at Bordertown where CFS personnel will be able to escort media onto the fire ground.
