SA FIRES: Interstate Firies To Join Fight, Premier Warns Death Toll May Rise

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Published

November 25, 2015

Horrific fires that have already claimed the lives of two Aussies, with unconfirmed reports of a third dead and three more missing, continue to burn in South Australia this morning.

Another 13 people – 5 of whom are seriously injured, one with burns to 80% of his or her body – are in hospital, while 16 homes have been destroyed and countless animals killed, including 2,000 pigs from SA’s second largest piggery.

SA Premier Jay Weatherill provided an update on the disaster in an early-morning press conference, confirming the Pinery fire has been downgraded to ‘watch and act’ but urging residents to remain vigilant.

“Three people have been identified as missing and that process (to find them) will continue,” he said. “We can’t be entirely sure we have identified every person within the fire ground. This morning, we will carry out a more detailed search. Obviously, we are thinking of the volunteers and the professional fire fighters. They’ve worked incredibly hard. We do urge people to stay informed in relation to the fire.”

#UPDATE Adelaide fires: 16 homes, number vehicles destroyed. 13 taken to hospital. 2 confirmed dead #SAFires #sun7 https://t.co/0ose1p2tVP

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) November 25, 2015

The South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) has warned it could take a minimum 2-3 days to contain the blaze, which began at around midday yesterday in Pinery (80kms from Adelaide) before travellling in a south-easterly direction towards Mallala, then Kapunda, affecting dozens of communities along the way, including Wasleys, Marrabel, Eudunda and Dutton.

#BREAKING: #PineryFire now fanned by 80km/h winds towards #Kapunda; CFS says it ‘cannot control fire front’ pic.twitter.com/CYa6IMHXUK #SAfires

— Australian News Net (@AusNewsNetwork) November 25, 2015

The main street in #Mallala @7NewsAdelaide #PineryFire #7NewsAdl pic.twitter.com/rhLu5c96St

— Mark Mooney (@MarkMooney7) November 25, 2015

#pineryfire pic.twitter.com/9WSaP01AWm

— Walco Seed Cleaning (@walcoseedau) November 25, 2015

Flames are spreading extremely quickly towards properties just outside of #Mallala. #PineryFire @7NewsAdelaide pic.twitter.com/aHTW3rHMIz

— Mark Mooney (@MarkMooney7) November 25, 2015

Residents have described terrifying scenes, with local man Paul O’Brien telling 891 ABC Adelaide his wife was trampled by a horse as it tried to escape the blaze.

“By the time I got home she had let the horses out and she is now in hospital,” he told .“She has been trampled by one of the horses. So now I’ve got a stallion and three mares running around the property.”

Hundreds of interstate firies are expected to join the fight today, as it’s revealed the fires have already burnt through approx. 90,000 hectares of land.

One small mercy: the Bureau of Meteorology has said conditions in SA would likely ease later today, with winds and temperatures dropping in the afternoon / evening.

Relief centres have been established at the Gawler Sports and Recreation Centre, the Balaklava Racecourse and the Clare Showgrounds so, if you’re displaced or know someone who is, GO THERE AND PEOPLE WILL LOOK AFTER YOU.

We’re thinking of everyone affected rn.

For SA fire information, visit the website at www.cfs.sa.gov.au or phone 1300 362 361.

Lead image via ABC News.