BUSHFIRE UPDATE

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:10): I seek leave to make a further ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I rise to update the house on the current fire situation and recovery efforts as a result of the multiple fires that have occurred across the state since last Saturday night. Since midnight on Saturday, emergency service crews have battled 65 fires across the state, nine of which were considered serious.

The fire near Tulka, about 12 kilometres south of Port Lincoln, has caused the most concern as it swept through over 1,800 hectares of pastoral land and scrub and damaged two homes, 14 cabins, a campervan, a caravan and burnt several sheds and four cars. The loss of property is distressing and we feel for the people suffering today, but I am pleased to be able to say that there have been no reports of serious injury or of lives lost.

Over 150 firefighters, assisted by three fixed-winged aircraft and a surveillance aircraft, worked to contain the fire. Conditions have remained mild overnight, allowing crews to continue to work in consolidating the control lines and mopping up. The CFS have established a multiagency investigation team which includes the MFS, SAPOL and CFS to establish the cause of this fire and survey the damage to properties.

The Minister for Emergency Services (Hon. Jennifer Rankine) and the Minister for Communities (Hon. Ian Hunter) have been on the ground in Lower Eyre Peninsula since yesterday afternoon to assist with the recovery efforts, inspect bushfire affected areas, meet with community members and thank the hardworking volunteers and emergency service workers. They were joined by the shadow minister for emergency services and local member, Peter Treloar.

I would like to express our profound gratitude and admiration to our dedicated firefighters and support staff from the CFS, MFS, SES and SAPOL who have worked tirelessly over the past several days. I am in no doubt that the damage and pain the community is now dealing with would have been much worse but for the efforts of those firefighters.

Unfortunately, I have been advised that, while fighting the 65 fires across the state, three firefighters sustained injuries while putting the needs of the community ahead of their own. I am pleased to report they are all on the mend and, on behalf of all South Australians, I wish them all the best and a speedy recovery.

We are approaching the 30^th anniversary of the devastating Ash Wednesday fires that killed so many and destroyed so much in 1983. The Mount Lofty Ranges remains the area of highest risk, principally because of the thousands of residents who live in the area. The weekend events are an unfortunate reminder that we live in a climate and a country that is bushfire prone and that we must do all we can to be bushfire ready.

The majority of people who die or become seriously injured during bushfires in South Australia are caught fleeing their homes or property at the last minute. Preparing a plan offers triggers to help people to either leave early or prepare to actively defend their property. I would urge all South Australians who live, work or travel in an area where bushfires can occur, if they have not already done so, to act now and prepare a bushfire survival plan. It is vitally important that we all play our part this bushfire season to ensure that we are bushfire ready.