Aus races to control major blaze before weather worsens
6 Jan 2015 1:20 AM GMT
Firefighters raced on Monday to contain a major blaze before the forecast return of strong winds and a heatwave, following the loss of 26 homes in the worst bushfire conditions in South Australia for three decades.
The state fire service said properties were still at risk after nearly 13,000 hectares (32,124 acres) of scrub and farmland were razed in the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of Adelaide, over the weekend. South Australia state Premier Jay Weatherill said that with cooler weather and calmer winds it was now a race against time before dangerous conditions expected on Wednesday in the Adelaide Hills. "There is still clear danger," he told reporters as water bombing aircraft dropped hundred of thousands of litres of fire retardant on the blaze that has a 238-kilometre (148-mile) perimeter. "This is by no means over," Weatherill added.                     Â
The state fire service said properties were still at risk after nearly 13,000 hectares (32,124 acres) of scrub and farmland were razed in the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of Adelaide, over the weekend. South Australia state Premier Jay Weatherill said that with cooler weather and calmer winds it was now a race against time before dangerous conditions expected on Wednesday in the Adelaide Hills. "There is still clear danger," he told reporters as water bombing aircraft dropped hundred of thousands of litres of fire retardant on the blaze that has a 238-kilometre (148-mile) perimeter. "This is by no means over," Weatherill added.                     Â
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