’Wall of flames’ as fires burn southern states

A SOUTH Australian farmer has reported a “wall of flames” as an extremely dangerous bushfire burned out of control in the state’s southeast.

An emergency warning was been issued for the Sherwood, Brimbago, Lowan Vale, McCallum and Senior areas near the South AustralianVictorian border.

Local farmer Robyn Verrall said her husband was fighting the blaze which was 20km from their property when it broke out.

“At (the) fire scene, it’s a wall of flames,” Ms Verrall said.

The state’s 12 other districts are 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 one at Happy Valley and another at Penfield had been brought under control.

However, a watch and act message remained in place for a fire at McLaren Vale, south of Adelaide.

Adelaide had a top temperature of 42.3C just after 1pm but by 3pm the mercury had dipped to 32C as a cool change continued to move across the state. Victoria also felt the heat as authorities yesterday battled to protect homes from an out of control blaze in Melbourne’s southeast, with at least one house on fire and footage showing fences and sheds alight.

News footage of a fire shows crews on the ground working to put out fences, sheds and roofs that have caught fire.