Some 140 visitors were evacuated from a South Australian caravan park as a grass fire threatened to get seriously out of control.
The blaze at Brown Hill Creek Caravan Park, in the Brownhill Creek State Recreation about seven kilometres out of Adelaide CBD, was eventually extinguished by the Country Fire Service. Sixty firefighters battled the blaze for over an hour, restricting its spread to four hectares and preventing damage to properties.
The van park evacuees were allowed to return to their rigs after a couple of hours.
Adelaide Now reports that two people have been reported for allegedly starting the fire accidentally. Police allege the couple were cooking fish using a portable gas stove, when hot oil spilled and ignited dry grass. The couple, both 20, tried to extinguish the fire but were unsuccessful.
They will be summonsed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.
CFS state coordinator Mark Thomason said people need to be aware of restriction in place during the fire danger season.
“For a number of activities, such as barbecues, lighting fires, angle grinding (and) welding, persons operating those devices need to take precautions,” he said. “There has to be a four-metre clearance of all flammable material and a means of extinguishing a fire … the only thing that changes is when we declare a day of total fire ban.”
Have you ever accidentally started a fire? Do you keep water on standby when you have a campfire? Comment below
