Properties and industrial buildings have been damaged by a bushfire which continues to burn at Port Lincoln, and authorities suspect failed power infrastructure was the cause.
Crews are still working to extinguish the blaze which started on the edge of the Eyre Penninsula town about 800m from the first property that was engulfed in flames.
The South Australian Country Fire Service said 23 properties were affected, including 16 assets that were destroyed. At least one of them was a home.
Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>
“There were several commercial premises that were lost and a number of sheds and buildings in that total,” CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin said on Friday.
“Tracing back the fire, they have determined some power infrastructure failed and that is the cause of the fire.
“There are dozens of properties still standing today, lives continuing today thanks to the heroics of the men and women on the front line.”
Local resident Teena Waters evacuated her home along with 13 horses, but returned to find the barn and many of her other valuable possessions destroyed.
“I lost a lot of years of memories with my horse equipment. I don’t even own a saddle. But it’s ok. We’ll get through it,” she said.
Port Lincoln residents are still being advised to close their windows and stay indoors because of potentially “toxic” smoke from a local waste facility that caught on fire.
The flames ravaged through more than 140ha of scrub, although the total cost of damage is yet to be estimated.
Loughlin said it will be several days before the blaze is fully extinguished and then cleaned up.
Authorities would not confirm what type of infrastructure was involved, but Emergency Management Minister Joe Szakacs said he would investigate further.
“I’ll take some advice over the coming days about infrastructure and more around the cause of this,” Szakacs said.
Winds created worrying situation
A school and several homes were evacuated on Thursday afternoon as flames were fanned by strong wind gusts up to 80km/h.
The Port Lincoln RSL and the local council have offered shelter for anyone seeking it.
Port Lincoln local Reece Chambo said his partner and her mother were stuck around Horse Rock campgrounds, about 20 minutes from the fire at its peak.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
He said although they were safe, the strong winds had left many others feeling anxious that the fire could have ravaged large parts of the town.
“Really scary right now, so many lives are in danger if this wind turns for the worst,” he said on Thursday.
“(My partner and her mother are) in their car at Horse Rock just waiting it out ... they’re safe right now ... I just feel helpless as I can’t get to them due to everything being blocked off.”
The Bureau of Meteorology issued an extreme fire danger warning for the Eastern Eyre Peninsula on Thursday as temperatures reached the high 30Cs.
- With AAP
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vN25ld3MuY29tLmF1L25ld3Mvc2EvcG9ydC1saW5jb2xuLXJlc2lkZW50cy1pc3N1ZWQtZW1lcmdlbmN5LXdhcm5pbmctZm9yLXVuY29udHJvbGxlZC1idXNoZmlyZS1jLTk3NzUxOTjSAXRodHRwczovLzduZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9uZXdzL3NhL3BvcnQtbGluY29sbi1yZXNpZGVudHMtaXNzdWVkLWVtZXJnZW5jeS13YXJuaW5nLWZvci11bmNvbnRyb2xsZWQtYnVzaGZpcmUtYy05Nzc1MTk4LmFtcA?oc=5
2023-02-17 06:14:00Z
1781060899
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Port Lincoln properties damaged in bushfire caused by failed power infrastructure - 7NEWS"
Post a Comment