SA: Lightning sparks bushfires in SA, VIC

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-1998
SA: Lightning sparks bushfires in SA, VIC

ADELAIDE, Dec 26 AAP - Lightning caused several bushfires in South Australia and Victoria
overnight, including a conservation park fire that burnt 600 hectares of scrub.

A Country Fire Service spokesman said a fire in the Ngarkat Conservation Park in SA's far
south-east, was one of several caused by severe weather and thunderstorms across the states.

Ten CFS crews and several Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) crews from Victoria put
in 20 metre wide firebreaks on the north and eastern sides of the fire.

The spokesman said the eastern breaks stretched as far as the Victorian border.

He said the fire was set by lightning late yesterday afternoon near the Kirra Homestead and
quickly engulfed the surrounding Mallee scrub.

NRE crews had returned to Victoria to continue fighting several smaller fires also started
by lightning.

He said lightning was believed responsible for several other small bushfires in SA's upper
south-east.

He said a spotter aircraft was being used to monitor the fire and look for any additional
fires in the park.

AAP ja/cjh/de

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES SA

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