So the bushfire season starts............

[Guest Guest75]

It's been red hot here today, I clocked 46c earlier.

 

The bushfire season has started with a bang.

 

A huge fire is burning North East of the city in the hills.

Thankfully it is not heavily populated but my reach some small townships if the can't stop it.

 

 

[NicF]

Where did you take the photo from Tyke? We were at Norwood Pool this afternoon and could see the smoke from there. It was in the direction of our house so we were driving home wondering how close the fire was to us. Not very as it turns out but it was hard to tell just where it was coming from. I could still see smoke from here just a few minutes ago. Let's hope they can put it out safely.

[Diane]

I have good friends who live at Kersbrook: they have been evacuated and are praying they will still have homes to go back to

 

Very scary cloud of smoke from over that way, and close enough to us to see the glow

Edited January 2, 2015 by Diane

[clarkes]

I have good friends who live at Kersbrook: they have been evacuated and are praying they will still have homes to go back to

 

Very scary cloud of smoke from over that way, and close enough to us to see the glow

 

Pray that we get through this season without any disasters.

[Guest Guest75]

Where did you take the photo from Tyke? We were at Norwood Pool this afternoon and could see the smoke from there. It was in the direction of our house so we were driving home wondering how close the fire was to us. Not very as it turns out but it was hard to tell just where it was coming from. I could still see smoke from here just a few minutes ago. Let's hope they can put it out safely.

 

 

We were going up the hill on South Road from Marion, there is a little viewing point half way up.

 

 

Let us hope they get it under control soon.

[Blossom]

It doesn't sound like they do have it under control. A few people I know are being evacuated at the moment. Is everyone here ok?

[Toni]

Wow - I live in Goodwood and got woken up with the smell inside the house (we have ducted aircon and windows are open). I can see a glow from outside my home - in the distance (thankfully). Looks like a few homes lost http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/large-fires-burn-in-south-australia-as-temperatures-soar-into-the-40s/story-fnl1ee8j-1227172035133

[adelaidenow]

Extremely smokey here in Highbury. Many friends and relatives have been evacuated Golden Grove area.

[snifter]

The SA CFS website is crashing under the pressure.

 

If people don't have it, the SA CFS app is good to get on your phone. Also they are on the usual social media sites to get alerts and updates. These are more stable in terms of remaining online to read when the website crashes.

 

ABC news has a live update page also

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-03/bushfires-threaten-sa2c-vic-live-blog/5998270

[Diane]

The SAMPSON FLAT fire is travelling in a Westerly direction towards GOLDEN GROVE, FAIRVIEW PARK, BANKSIA PARK and TEA TREE GULLY. If you live in these suburbs be aware of the Safer Settlement Line. Anyone living in the grey area of the map is safer.

 

For further suburb information check out the full map and details at http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/prepare_for_bushfire/know_your_area/bushfire_safer_places/bushfire_safer_settlement.jsp

[snifter]

Just read about how much it spread overnight.

 

South Australian Country Fire Service spokesman Brenton Eden says the Sampson Flat fire has had "astronomical growth" overnight.

"To put the fires into perspective, the Sampson Flat fire at yesterday afternoon at 4:00 pm (local time) was 154 hectares, as of this morning that fire is now 4,741 hectares with a perimeter of 38 kilometres.

"So just an astronomical growth in that fire overnight in all areas."

 

 

[Blossom]

It's crazy. You know it's bad when you get up at 4am to feed the baby and Facebook is full of posts from Aussies not Brits checking how everyone is doing and letting everyone know what's happening. One was saying (who is close to where they have evacuated) that there were traffic jams past his house at about 3:30am. :-o

[Guest Guest75]

Just read about how much it spread overnight.

 

South Australian Country Fire Service spokesman Brenton Eden says the Sampson Flat fire has had "astronomical growth" overnight.

"To put the fires into perspective, the Sampson Flat fire at yesterday afternoon at 4:00 pm (local time) was 154 hectares, as of this morning that fire is now 4,741 hectares with a perimeter of 38 kilometres.

"So just an astronomical growth in that fire overnight in all areas."

 

 

 

Yep, it is bloody frightening when you see these figures.

 

Once a fire takes hold it has a life of it's own. Having been close to one in the Onkaparinga Gorge it's not like your "Bonfire at home" - it literally sucks the oxygen out of the air and roars like a Jumbo jet.

 

No sightseeing drives up that way folks .................it blocks the main routes in and out and you may end up trapped.

 

 

Our daughter's friends have been evacuated from that area and we are in constant touch with our daughter up that way,just in case.

[Diane]

High winds are forecast, but at the moment the wind has dropped to almost nothing and it's eerily silent where we are. Huge billowing clouds of smoke from the hills, but certainly not as smokey smelling as it was overnight. Husband's friend who is evacuating from the hills just saw a cyclist heading up Gorge Road! Some people are just beyond belief....

[Guest Guest75]

This photo brings it home. Taken from the north I'd say .

 

[adelaidenow]

Great map Diane and slightly worrying to see our side of Highbury is not in the safer settlement zone. Worth knowing.

[Diane]

From the SA County Fire Service page about 30 mins ago:

 

SAMPSON FLAT FIRE - URGENT UPDATE

03/01/2015

The CFS advises that the Sampson Flat bushfire has continued to burn out of control through the night on all flanks. A strengthening Northerly wind is forecast to reach speeds of up to 110km/hr across the fire ground in the next hour and a half. This will cause the fire to burn out of control in a South/South Easterly direction potentially impacting on communities within a South West to South East radius of the fire ground.

The CFS urges anyone within the Houghton, Inglewood, Paracombe, Gumeracha, Birdwood, Upper and Lower Hermitage, Kersbrook, Lobethal, Lenswood, Castambul, Cherryville, Forest Range, Charleston, Norton Summit, Montacute, Oakbank Balhannah, Uraidla, Piccadilly and Williamstown areas to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan.

If you do not feel your property is prepared to a defendable level leave whilst you have a clear exit to a safer place.

Due to the uncertain nature and impact of the fire behaviour the Adelaide Hills faces today it is imperative that people within these vicinities take appropriate action now.

Significant smoke and fallen trees could make safe travel difficult in the area and residents should be well aware of their safest exit route. Do not drive into smoke.

It is critical for people to stay informed of the changing conditions throughout the day and implement their bushfire survival plan accordingly.

Stay informed through www.cfs.sa.gov.au, ABC and local radio, the CFS FireApp and CFS Facebook for further information or call the Bushfire Information Hotline on 1300 362 361.

There are two community meetings scheduled today at this point. The Kersbrook Community meeting has been moved to the Golden Grove Recreation Centre on The Golden Way opposite the shopping centre for 11am. The One Tree Hill Community meeting will be held at the One Tree Hill Primary School at 3pm.