Firefighters are monitoring a grass fire in South Australia’s far north-west, which has burnt about 65,000 hectares.
Key points:
- The CFS have been monitoring a large grass fire near Kalka, in SA’s APY Lands
- The fire has burnt about 65,000 hectares
- Fire breaks were established to protect habitats of the endangered black-flanked rock wallaby
The fire, near Kalka in South Australia’s remote APY Lands, began last Monday and spread into Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
It has burnt through 65,000 hectares, or 650 square kilometres — more than twice the size of the country of Malta.
The Country Fire Service said this morning the fire was now under the influence of a south-westerly wind, pushing it towards the Northern Territory and onto burnt ground.
The CFS advised travellers to proceed with caution and remain vigilant to changes in conditions if travelling along the Gunbarrel Highway from Kalka and Pipalyatjara to the Western Australian border.
CFS Regional Commander Sindy McCourt said crews had worked with Anangu traditional owners and APY Land Management to ensure communities in the area were prepared.
The CFS also implemented fire breaks to protect the habitats of the Warru, also known as the black-flanked rock wallaby, considered to be one of South Australia’s most endangered mammal species.
The Warru population in Kalka was one of only two until August, when 40 were trapped in the northern APY Lands and released about 100 km further south to establish a new population in the Everard Ranges, near Mimili.