South Australia is in the grip of its worst bushfires since 1983, when the Ash Wednesday fires claimed 28 lives.
Per reports in the Sydney Morning Herald and other sources, thousands of residents have fled their homes since the first warning was raised on Friday afternoon, taking shelter in relief centers across the Adelaide Hills.
The Country Fire Service have said that in some places, temperatures above 40 degrees and winds of over 90km/h have led to a situation that will likely not be contained until early next week.
A fire in the Sampson Flat area of the Lofty Ranges has burned out of control since Saturday – 10,000 hectares of scrub have been burned in the area, and at least five homes destroyed, and dozens more likely to be reported.
Six CFS volunteers have been injured while battling blazes, most suffering from smoke inhalation, while tragically, dozens of cats and dogs perished when fires engulfed a boarding kennel in the Adelaide Hills.
The owner of Tea Tree Gully Boarding Kennels took to Facebook last night, to announce that in excess of 40 dogs had been saved from the facility, but that all the cats there had perished.
South Australian residents have rallied in response to the blaze, and the Country Fire Service say that they have been “inundated” with donations of food and clothing.
They say that many relief centers are filled with donations, and are unable to manage any more at this time. Those wishing to help further have been directed to the state government’s bushfire recovery site.
Photo: Brenton Edwards via Getty Images
