This summer South Australia will encounter an El Niño event and positive Indian Ocean Dipole, which will deliver dry and warm conditions across the state, increasing the risk of bushfires.
Among the actions underway:
- Five new aircraft are being added to the CFS aerial firefighting fleet, increasing the number from 26 to 31, following a $27.6 million State Government investment.
- Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology is being rolled out for firefighting and emergency service vehicles as part of a $12 million State Government investment.
- 25 prescribed burns have already been undertaken, with plans for a further 31.
- A statewide advertising campaign will commence at the end of October, encouraging South Australians to have a bushfire survival plan.
- The Fire Danger Season has been brought forward in six districts, with Flinders, North East Pastoral, North West Pastoral, and West Coast to start on October 16, followed by Mid North and Yorke Peninsula districts on 1 November.
- Police Operation Nomad has commenced, focussing on deliberate, reckless and negligent acts that may cause a bushfire. Police patrols will be deployed on total fire ban days (this includes extreme and catastrophic fire danger ratings) throughout the season. Police will also be monitoring persons of interest throughout the season.
Cabinet representatives, the Country Fire Service (CFS), SA State Emergency Service (SASES), Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and other key stakeholders gathered for an Emergency Management Council meeting this morning.
Before summer arrives, the State Government and the CFS are reminding South Australians living in risk areas to ensure they have a bushfire survival plan.
South Australians need to know what they will do when a bad fire day approaches – including where they will go, when they will leave and what they will take. It is too late to plan once an emergency warning is issued.
Key elements to include in a bushfire survival plan are:
- Include the whole family (including your pets) in bushfire preparations, to empower young people and ensure they understand what to do in an emergency.
- It's important the community check the Fire Danger Ratings each day and stay informed using multiple sources of emergency warning information. Fire Danger Ratings tell you how dangerous a bushfire could be if it did occur.
- It's particularly important that if people are travelling across the state that they check the Fire Danger Ratings for the day, and ensure they have a plan in case a bushfire starts.
- If the community haven't already, they should subscribe to CFS warnings through the CFS website, and download the Alert SA app.
As put by Peter Malinauskas
The State Government is taking action now to ensure our state is prepared for the bushfire season.
We're investing in the necessary equipment to ensure our firefighters are well-equipped and we're undertaking prescribed burns across the state.
I encourage all South Australians to ensure their properties are clean and ready for summer and bushfire survival plans and kits are in place and updated.
After three wet summers due to La Niña weather patterns, those living in areas prone to fires should take the opportunity to prepare their properties for dryer and warmer conditions, ensure any excess fuel is removed and survival plans are made.
As put by Joe Szakacs
Include the whole family in your bushfire preparations, so you're empowering young people in your family and ensuring you don't forget your pets.
Practicing your bushfire survival plan is a great way to ensure you and the family know what to do when you're under pressure.
As put by CFS Chief Officer Brett Loughlin, AFSM
As an all-hazard agency, our volunteers are always prepared and ready to respond to a bushfire. We have thousands of volunteers across the state who train hard throughout the year, risking their lives for their community every day.
Preparing for the bushfire season is a shared responsibility and we encourage everyone to prepare your home and property, making sure your Bushfire Survival Plan is complete, and have a plan for what the whole family will do when a bad day approaches.
Now is the time to clean up around your property, remove flammable materials that are around your home, clear your gutters and mow your lawns.
