Firefighters were working to contain blazes threatening homes in the Adelaide Hills on Monday morning, with high temperatures and strong winds forecast for later in the day and throughout the week.
More than 350 firefighters were mopping up after fire tore through bushland and destroyed property at the weekend, and bracing for wind changes that could push flames back towards more densely populated areas.
The fire at Sampson Flat, with a perimeter of 180 kilometres, was still burning out of control, and has already blackened more than 12,000 hectares.
At least 12 homes have been lost in South Australia, but that number could be as high as 30, as assessment teams move back into affected areas.
Deputy incident controller Ian Tanner told a public meeting of residents in Lobethal, east of Adelaide, that he believed crews could stop the fire spreading further, but warned the danger period was not over.
“Even with all the resources we have, we only have to miss one stump, one tree with an ember coming out of it and, on a windy day, on a northerly day, this fire will continue to burn.”
Roadblocks were still in place but some residents had been allowed to return to their homes. Many roads were still blocked by large fallen trees that crews were working to remove.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill urged people to follow the instruction of emergency services crews, and only return to fire-affected communities with permission from authorities.
“There are parts of the firegrounds which are becoming safer than other parts and consideration is being given to inviting people back to assist in the fire effort to protect their own homes when it’s safe to do so,” he said.
Twenty-two people, most of them firefighters, have suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation, while one person was taken to hospital after a tree fell on their car at Cudlee Creek.
Federal and state government disaster assistance has been made available to residents affected by the Sampson Flat bushfire.
Families can access up to $700 in emergency grants to assist with essential items such as food and clothing, and up to two weeks’ emergency accommodation is available for those who are unable to return home.
The bushfire threat has eased in Victoria after more than a dozen blazes burned across the state over the weekend.
A fire on the Mornington Peninsula, which is heavily populated during the summer holidays, destroyed fences and sheds, and damaged homes on Saturday.
