SA: Firefighters continue to battle major blaze in SA

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
SA: Firefighters continue to battle major blaze in SA

More than 170 firefighters will continue to battle a major bushfire in South Australia's
Riverland today .. more than a week after it was sparked by lightning.

Hot conditions in the area have raised fears the blaze could break through control lines.

The Country Fire Service says crews worked through the night .. backburning along most
of the southern and eastern sides of the fire.

Two planes have also been brought in to lay fire retardant .. and a water bomber from
New South Wales is based at Waikerie.







Police are on standby to close the Sturt Highway .. and a Metropolitan Fire Service
task force from Adelaide is ready to help protect local properties.

However .. lighter winds than forecast are expected in the area today.

So far the Riverland blaze has burnt more than 115 thousand hectares of scrub.

And its north-eastern flank has destroyed a section of a reserve .. the last known
habitat of the black eared miner bird.

AAP RTV tjd/rt/bart

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES SA (ADELAIDE)

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