Heartbreaking SE fire clean-up begins

Livestock losses are still being verified, but PIRSA estimates that more than 2000 head of livestock have been confirmed lost at Keilira.

But locals say that figure could double.

Bin Bin Station owner Phil Clarke said it was lucky non-one was seriously injured in the Keilira fire, as communications were hindered by a lack of phone service.

As a CFS member, Mr Clarke was out fighting the fire on another property after lightning strikes, when the wind changed and headed straight for his.

"From where we were, it took about 15 minutes to get to our house," he said.

"I had to drive through fire to get up on to a rise to tell my wife Anthea to get out.

"If we didn't have a UHF radio, she may not be here today. I find it hard to believe that in 2020 international scammers can ring us, but I can't ring 25km away to save my wife."

The Clarkes lost their home of 18 years, some machinery, more than 60km of fencing, 900 bales of hay, more than 30 cattle and 500 1.5-year-old ewes, which they have since buried.

"The fire took out two-thirds of our farm, up to 2500ha, plus all our possessions," he said.

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Neighbour Charlie Bruce was also out trying to save someone else's house, when the fire tore through their property.

Penny Bruce, who was on her way to Adelaide, said if it wasn't for their well-watered lawn, their house would have gone up too.

"The fire stopped at the lawn," she said.

"The rest of the farm was burnt out. We may have 80ha left of 1600ha.

"Nearly 90 of our cattle also perished and another 40 had to be euthanised.

"When you hear your cattle being shot, that's pretty awful, and some our cows have a lot of burnt udders.

"We trucked out the rest of our cattle to other properties of ours, which we are very lucky to have.

"We are in the process of buying hay because we are very short of feed now."

Mrs Bruce said the support from people, near and far, had been extraordinary.

"People came in from everywhere to help bury our livestock, which we had to do quickly because it was so hot," she said.

"We're now on the hunt for fence posts - there is a shortage across Australia - we have people ready to go to help replace fences, but we need the posts."

On December 20, a fire also broke out in catastrophic conditions at Coonalpyn, affecting seven registered livestock properties.

While no livestock was lost, PIRSA estimated 200 hives were burnt, affecting eight apiarists.

Further south at Padthaway, a fire destroyed 310 hives with four apiarists impacted.