THE fire danger season in the Mount Lofty Ranges has been extended another 15 days, due to lower than average rainfalls, combined with higher than average temperatures.
Country Fire Service preparedness operations director Leigh Miller said the risk of bushfire would not subside until there is substantial rainfall to encourage green grass growth and increase fuel moisture in bushland areas.
“We would require rainfall of more than 70 millimetres in some areas, combined with milder autumn conditions, before we are likely to see a reduction in risk,” Mr Miller said.
Some areas of the Mount Lofty Ranges are between 25-100mm lower than their average rainfall from January to April, according to Bureau of Meteorology records.
Mr Miller cautioned people in areas where the Fire Danger Season had, or was about to be, completed when starting burn-offs.
He advised anyone wishing to do any burning after the season has ended to comply with the Broad Acre Burning Code of Practice to make sure burning is done safely.
“There will still be patches within the state where fuel loads are still high and very dry, so people may need to delay their burn-offs a few more weeks to avoid large fires,” he said.
There had been consideration to extend other districts but fire danger seasons for the Adelaide Metropolitan, Kangaroo Island, Lower South East, Mid North, and Yorke Peninsula fire ban districts will still finish on April 30.
