SA: Fire bans to extend almost to winter on Kangaroo Island

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
SA: Fire bans to extend almost to winter on Kangaroo Island

ADELAIDE, April 24 AAP - The fire season on South Australia's Kangaroo Island will
stretch almost to winter this year after a series of devastating bushfires over summer.

The Country Fire Service (CFS) said it had extended the fire season by two weeks to May 14.

The move was in response to the very dry conditions across the island.

"The soil dryness and fuel hazard in remnant native vegetation remains a major concern,"

said CFS regional commander Mark Thomason.

"Although the western part of the island has started to green, other areas continue
to represent a serious fire danger risk.

"It's better to be cautious and wait a bit longer before lifting the restrictions,
especially after the devastating fires on the island last December."

Over a two-week period bushfires destroyed almost 100,000 hectares of scrub, about
17 per cent of the island.

At one stage up to 700 firefighters from five states were battling the fires. Three
separate blazes were of most concern, one in the Flinders Chase National Park, one at
Western River on the north coast and one at D'Estrees Bay on the south coast.

As well as causing major damage, the fires claimed one life, with the body of 22-year-old
Joel Riley found in his burnt out truck near Vivonne Bay on December 6, the day the fires
broke out.

The CFS said the fire danger season had ended in nine of South Australia's 15 fire ban districts.

In the remaining five districts, it would close on April 30.

AAP tjd/bwl

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES SA

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