Firefighters are battling an out-of-control blaze that is threatening a number of suburban homes.
The bushfire has already damaged at least one house in Carrum Downs, southeast Melbourne.
Residents have been ordered to leave their homes, with a wind change expected in the next 30 minutes that could impact homes in nearby streets.
Residents have been ordered to leave their homes, with a wind change expected in the next 30 minutes that could impact homes in nearby streets
A fire helicopter was on the scene water-bombing from the air, joined by fire crews on the ground
A fire helicopter was on the scene water-bombing from the air, joined by fire crews on the ground.
In South Australia’s southeast a local farmer reported a ‘wall of flames’ as an extremely dangerous bushfire raged out of control through scrub and grassland.
An emergency warning was issued on Saturday afternoon for the Sherwood, Brimbago, Lowan Vale, McCallum and Senior areas near the South Australian-Victorian border.
‘If you are in this area you are in danger. There is a risk to your life and property,’ the CFS said.
The bushfire has already damaged at least one house in Carrum Downs, southeast Melbourne
Firefighters are battling an out-of-control blaze that is threatening a number of suburban homes
‘Take shelter inside a solid building. Do not leave or enter this area in a vehicle or on foot. It is too late to leave and the roads will not be safe.’
By 3pm the blaze had burnt through more than 4000 hectares and remained a threat to farm buildings and equipment.
The CFS said more than 70 firefighters had been deployed to the area and the blaze was also being attacked by four water bombers.
Local farmer Robyn Verrall said her husband was fighting the blaze which was about 20 kilometres from their property when it broke out.
CFS crews refill their trucks while they attend a fire at Southern Waste Resource Co near McLaren Vale, South Australia
CFS crews attend a fire at Southern Waste ResourceCo near McLaren Vale, South Australia
Images she posted on Twitter showed trees and grass on fire while a video shows thick smoke blanketing paddocks, significantly reducing visibility.
‘At (the) fire scene, it’s a wall of flames,’ Ms Verrall said.
Police said the blaze closed the Dukes Highway at one stage but it had since reopened.
However, police said the Ngarkat Highway, between Bordertown and Pinnaroo is closed, along with Emu Flat Road.
The southeast blaze came amid soaring temperatures and catastrophic fire conditions in SA’s Mt Lofty Ranges, and upper and lower southeast.
The state’s 12 other districts were either severe or extreme, with authorities considering the conditions as the worst in several years.
Other fires were also burning in SA but the CFS said those at Happy Valley, Penfield and McLaren Vale had been contained.
Other incidents on Saturday included the failure of the Alert SA smartphone app designed to warn residents of emergency situations.
The operators of the app said the issues were being investigated as a ‘critical priority’.
Adelaide had a top of 42.3C just after 1pm but by 3.30pm the mercury had dipped to about 35C as a cool change continued to move across the state.