WHILE the devastating fires on Kangaroo Island have claimed the lives of a father and son, 56 homes, tens of thousands of livestock, countless wildlife and more than 160,000 hectares, the threat of another flare-up remains.
The Country Fire Service remains concerned about the high fire danger today, as weather conditions are forecast to be very hot and windy.
CFS chief officer Mark Jones stressed earlier this week that the KI fire was still very much a threat.
"Hundreds of people are working together to bring this fire under control, but we are dealing with difficult terrain," he said.
Areas of concern included Snug Cove, the area between Middle River and Cape Dutton, Stokes Bay, the Lathami Conservation Park, Bark Hut and Andermel and Mount Taylor conservation parks.
"There has been strategic back burning to create protective lines before Thursday, but this is still a large fire that is not controlled," Mr Jones said.
"We will be sending extra firefighting resources to the island in anticipation and will have extra aerial resources on standby.
"The island is starting to rebuild, but the emergency part of this incident is not over.
"We advise people to follow warnings on Thursday in the event that the fires do break containment lines."
As of Wednesday morning, the state government confirmed 233 properties had been assessed, of which 56 homes were destroyed, along with extensive damage to buildings, outbuildings and vehicles.
BlazeAid, the military and SES were now on the island to help the CFS and local services in the recovery effort, particularly farmers facing the heartbreaking task of counting and disposing of thousands of animals.
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State Animal and Agricultural Services controller Mehdi Doroudi said there were four teams, plus animal health officers and veterinarians, on the ground helping producers to manage and dispose of dead livestock.
"A PIRSA carcass disposal coordinator and EPA specialist are also on the island to provide further support in the right way to dispose of livestock, while the defence force may provide logistic support," he said.
Mr Doroudi estimated about 116 livestock producers and beekeepers were situated in the fire ground.
While initially encountering telecommunication issues, he said most had been contacted by text message, and indicated Biosecurity SA was now making follow-up phone calls.
"The four teams will also go from property to property to offer farmers support, particularly in the treatment or euthanisation of livestock, or providing burial advice," he said.
Biosecurity SA verified at least 11,000 head of livestock had been lost, but expected that figure to rise drastically.
"The island is also home to about 50 registered apiarists with about 4000 hives, of which possibly 1000 have been destroyed - but that is still unconfirmed," Mr Doroudi said.
"We advise beekeepers needing help to get in contact with the PIRSA Apiary Unit (0408 812 698).
"There is also a handful of other growers and seed potato companies within the fire ground that we aim to contact as well."
Mr Doroudi said the government was also helping Livestock SA facilitate a hay and fodder donation depot at Cape Jervis, which opened on Tuesday.
"We have also been working with SA Water to ensure there is enough water for livestock, with a standpipe at the intersection of Playford Highway and Hog Bay Road at Kingscote," he said.
Agriculture KI chairman Rick Morris, who farms near Karatta on the south coast, lost about 80 per cent of his pastures and fences and about 400 ewes in Friday's fire.
He was still preparing for unfavourable conditions today.
He said it has been devastating as some people had lost everything.
"Our house and sheds were only spared on Friday because of a wind change," he said.
"The fire basically went from the north to the south and back again in the space of Friday afternoon.
"The CFS did their best under very difficult circumstances, but you could not fight the ferocity of that fire."
Mr Morris said the lack of phone coverage during the ordeal was very frustrating.
"We just couldn't coordinate anything on the ground," he said.
With minimal pastures left, Mr Morris said they would have to confinement feed their remaining sheep, as would many producers.
"I had planned to buy in 400 tonnes of hay and grain because of the poorer season, but now I will need at least 800t," he said.
We will recover. It may take a few years, but we'll get there.
- RICK MORRIS
Mr Morris had been out burying dead livestock this week. Starting to rebuild the farm would take a bit longer.
"People need to have burnt fences assessed before they can start to clean up," he said.
"Souring fencing materials might also pose a bit of a problem. But we will recover. It may take a few years, but we'll get there."
On the cropping front, KI Pure Grain chief executive officer Shane Mills said most of its members had finished harvest before Christmas, with only one bigger operator still finishing off last Thursday afternoon.
"There could be smaller guys out there that may not have harvested yet, but all of our contracted grain had been harvested," he said.
"We still have some growers that have lost their houses and shedding, which is absolutely devastating."
Biosecurity SA advises any landholders with an agricultural or animal services emergency to contact their hotline on 1800 255 556.
For fire updates, visit the CFS website (www.cfs.sa.gov.au) or phone the Bushfire Information Hotline on 1800 362 361.
