Blackford blaze tears through region

Blackford blaze tears through region

The community surrounding Lucindale is reeling up after a huge fire swept through the region on Monday during horrific weather conditions.

The blaze started just after 12.30pm at Blackford, west of Lucindale and burned through 17,000ha of farmland in an easterly direction.

At the height of the fire 45 fire appliances with 200 firefighters, supported by farm fire units, were battling the blaze, while the CFS also called in six water bombing aircraft as well as five support aircraft.

Fire crews managed to bring the blaze under control late on Monday night, with CFS strike teams from neighbouring regions sent in to relieve local volunteers.

Many residents gathered at evacuation centres in Lucindale and Naracoorte on Monday, as thousands of properties lost power. Numerous roads in the area were closed, with warnings issued for fallen trees and livestock blocking the roadways.

Mobile telephone and landline services were also interrupted around the Lucindale area due to the fire. The fire blackened farmland not far from the site of the Keilira fire, which ravaged 25,000ha of prime agricultural land late in December 2019.

Local MP Nick McBride spent most of Monday fighting the fire with his father Phil and said he understood at least one family home was lost at Avenue Range, along with many sheep and cattle. “My thoughts are with the entire Avenue Range and Lucindale communities as they begin counting the cost from this devastating fire,” he said.

“Around 17,000 hectares of land was destroyed and there have been significant infrastructure and, tragically, stock losses. “Many individuals and families will be surveying the damage to their properties and beginning the long and arduous clean up.”

Mr McBride said fire had affected at least 75 landholders as the fire zone was in an intensive farming area. “At least it was not over the same territory as last time, we have not got people suffering twice,” he said. “But we have got a few more people affected than the Keilira fire.

“This fire started in Mount Scott Park, burnings towards Avenue and ending in Lucindale and it burnt right through to the fringe of the town. “The Lucindale Field Days site with all of its irrigation protected the town from the fire.”

Mr McBride said the fire moved with an immense amount of speed, where fire units initially were not able to do anything about the front and instead concentrated on protecting assets. “We were protecting houses and livelihoods,” he said.

“In the way of damage, there is one house lost that we do know of, possibly two, I’m hearing around 25 different structure burn downs like hay sheds.

“Stock losses have been heavy, I am hearing we are going to see hundreds, if not thousands of sheep dead and possibly up to 1000 cattle. This area that has been burned was mainly livestock businesses.”

Mr McBride said native vegetation and haystacks had continued to smoulder, causing a lot of smoke in the area.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Mr McBride said his senses were heightened in anticipation of the extreme fire danger.

After noticing smoke in the area, he and his father were on the road in their farm firefighting unit within an hour. “We could see the fire was heading towards Avenue, we were sent to protect some assets,” he said.

“The fire was coming towards us, towards the Lucindale Kingston Highway, we could see a mob of sheep and managed to move them out of the way with another farmer.

“Once we had looked after the assets, we then made our way past Avenue, towards Lucindale and we came across cattle on the road and they were burned and there was another paddock on fire with cattle on unburnt land, so we put out that fire and saved some stock.”

Mr McBride said he and his father checked on residents throughout the area, including some who were working to extinguish embers and spot fires.

“I have a great deal of sympathy for all of those who have been affected by the fire, including the difficulties of dealing with the loss of stock,” he said. “Usually people never have the insurance that covers everything, people are often out of pocket, there is a lot of pain and angst there.

“My heart goes out to those for a speedy and quick recovery. “A big thank you must go to the CFS volunteers and farm units who helped out on the Lucindale fire.”

Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

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