Country Fire Service personnel have been seriously injured in the state’s south-east, according to South Australian Premier Steven Marshall.
Key points:
- CFS personnel have been seriously injured while fighting a fire near Lucindale
- The Premier said he was waiting for further details
- The fire started in a bluegum plantation on Wednesday afternoon
Before today’s COVID-19 press conference, Mr Marshall said the incident involved a CFS truck and a tree and he was awaiting further details.
“I have just been advised that there has been a serious incident, a CFS vehicle and a tree, down in the south-east,” he said.
“We believe the people on board have sustained serious injuries, I haven’t got the full details.”
He said further information should be known soon.
“I do genuinely want to say thank you to every single person who works on the front line, we have had significant fires down in the south east, particularly around the Lucindale area in the past 48 hours,” Mr Marshall said.
About 150 firefighters from South Australia and Victoria have been battling the blaze near Lucindale, about 350 kilometres south east of Adelaide.
The fire has been burning in a bluegum forest about 20km south of the township.
The fire was downgraded to an advice level last night with the CFS advising it was no longer a threat to life of property, however, it was was still burning out of control.
Authorities said people in the area needed to stay alert, monitor local conditions and decide what they would do if the situation changed.
The CFS said the fire had earlier broken containment lines and multiple spotfires had started to the west of the fireground.
Emergency messages were sent to locals at risk and ground crews were working to get to affected properties earlier on Thursday night.
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