Kangaroo Island fires 2007

The Kangaroo Island Fires of December 2007 were a natural event that occurred due to lightning strikes on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, from 6/12/2007 until 15/12/2007.

Day 1 - Thursday December 6:

A media release at 1.43pm informed the public that Country Fire Service volunteers from the Kangaroo Island brigades of Parndana, Duncan-Gosse, Kingscote and South-West brigades responded to a scrub fire at Western River (Solly's Fire) on the north coast of the island. They were assisted by two water bombing aircraft. Other major fires were reported at Vivonne Bay (Central Fire) on the south coast, a fire on forestry and farming land approximately 20km east of Parndana (Riverleas Fire) and in the Cape Gantheaume Wildernes Area (D'Estrees Fire). By late evening, 14 fires in total were reported, with 4 under control.

An 22 year old Island local perished in the evening, after jack-knifing his truck whilst assisting in the fire fighting effort.

Day 2 - Friday December 7:

With road closures in place, the four fires continue to burn. After lunch the CFS issued a statement, detailing the K.I. fires as follows:

"There are currently 8 fires classed as Going on Kangaroo Island. These are:

· Vivonne Bay

· Kiawarra

· Emmets

· Flinders Chase

· Mays

· Riverleas

· Solly

· Pontifax

Overnight the Emmets and Kiawarra fires joined and burnt into Cape Gantheaume Conservation Park along the northern boundary toward D’Estrees Bay.

A Bushfire Information Message remains in force for Kangaroo Island.

Around 100 persons, predominately tourists, were sheltered in place until it was safe to allow them to relocate. Significant air resources have been pre-staged on the Island with 4 fixed wing bomber aircraft available from first light and 3 surveillance platforms for aerial observation. Additional appliances and crew were deployed to the Island last night and again this morning.

One shed at Vivonne Bay is the only asset reported to have been lost.

An additional 14 police officers were sent to Kangaroo Island yesterday to assist the local police respond to fire related incidents. South Coast CIB Detectives will be attending Kangaroo Island this morning following the death of a 22 year old man from Kangaroo Island who died yesterday evening just west of Vivonne Bay. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A Dangerous Area Declaration has been made and commenced at 7 am this morning. The dangerous area is located west of D’Estree’s Bay Road, Elsegood Road, Hog Bay Road, Playford Highway and North Coast Road. People are prohibited from entering this western part of Kangaroo Island where there are uncontained fires."

Day 3 - Saturday December 8

Backburning and firebreaks overnight meant that the Riverleas fire is now classed as contained, with the main efforts now being on the Central Fire and Solly's Fire. By midday, residents in the township of Vivonne Bay and also around the south eastern edge of Flinders Chase are evacuated, with strong winds not helping fire fighters.

By 2:45 there is a fire warning message posted for the D'Estrees fire also, with residents of the area also being evacuated. At 6:37, there is a third warning posted for the Island, with residents of the Flinders Chase national park being evacuated also.

A media posting regarding the Solly's fire states that "The fire currently burning in the Western River Road area is burning in a progressive manner between Western River Road, North Coast Road, Berrymans Road, Colmans Road and Sheridans Road."

Although the Vivonne Bay fire is now classed as contained, It is obvious at this point that the fires are going to be a serious issue for some time to come.

Day 4 - Sunday December 9

Due to the inacessability of the D'Estrees fire, the only operations on this are backburning and clearing.

The Flinders Chase fire has two fronts, with the main front running paralell to the South Coast Road, and a second front running north along the West End Highway. A shack at Vivonne Bay is so far the only asset lost.

The Western River fire remains a high risk for surrounding properties and dwellings. A number of resources are allocated for the task of asset protection, however the fire at this stage is still mainly burning in inacessible areas.

A media release at 10.30 states that an Ericsson Air Crane (Nicknamed Elvis) will be arriving on the Island today for assistance in fighting the fires.

As the situation quickly esclates, resources from interstate are called upon. Victorian strike teams, as well as New South Wales and Tasmanian crews are deployed to the island, with the Island's resources not capable of taskling the large magnitute of the situation.

to be completed

Summary

On Sunday 16th December 2007 all fires were contained, having burnt 90,772 hectares, or 20% of the Island.

Within Flinders Chase, 63,000 hectares, or 85% of the Park, was burnt.

18,341 hectares at the D'Estrees fire was burnt, 13,817 of the Central fire, and 3,114 hectares at Solly's.