Residents near large prescribed burns in Adelaide’s foothills have expressed alarm at the scale of the fires, which generated large smoke plumes, however, the agency in charge says everything has gone according to plan.
Key points:
- A prescribed burn at Black Hill and Morialta conservation parks caused heavy smoke seen across Adelaide’s eastern suburbs
- The environment department has reassured the public
- That fire is still burning
The burn-offs at the Black Hill and Morialta conservation parks triggered concerns of a bushfire among some locals, with photos and videos circulating on social media showing the hills ablaze.
However, the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) — the agency in charge of controlled burns in South Australia — says the fires are not out of control.
The department had issued a statement saying the prescribed burn at Morialta Conservation Park has “gone to plan”.
“We understand people may have seen flames and smoke, but there has been no risk to properties,” they said.
“Crews will continue to monitor the burn.”
One Athelstone resident, Branka Watson, said she lives less than 5 kilometres away and that Black Hill and Morialta were “densely populated by trees”.
“Flames can be seen with naked eyes. Huge smoke,” she said.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast for the area on Tuesday is that temperature should reach a maximum of 27 Celsius, with a moderate fire danger in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Posted , updated
