Sunday, January 4, 2015

BUSHFIRE BURNS OUT OF CONTROL IN SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, Australia - Houses were lost as an intense bushfire raged out of control in South Australia on Saturday, as authorities warned the state faced its worst wildfire danger since deadly 1983 blazes.
Officials said the scenic Adelaide Hills, northeast of Adelaide city, faced “an incredibly dangerous fire” which, with high winds and temperatures forecast, was impossible to fight head-on. 
Dotted with pretty villages, the area is known for its farming produce and wineries and has a population of some 40,000. 
The blaze at Sampson Flat is burning freely in all directions and in an erratic manner, after spreading rapidly from a 154 hectare fire on Friday afternoon to one covering 4,741 hectares with a perimeter of 38 kilometres. 
The fire is in rugged country and subject to unpredictable behaviour due to wind gusts, forcing firefighters to abandon hopes of stopping the blaze until the weather abates. 
  • So far five homes have been destroyed but authorities said this number could rise as winds reach speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour.

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