CFS Incident Update : Issued for CHERRY GARDENS regarding the CHERRY GARDENS fire.

A Watch and Act Message remains current for this fire.

The CFS is still working to contain the fires that have been burning since just after 4:00pm on the 24th of January.

More than 250 firefighters worked overnight to suppress areas of the fire.

Over 400 firefighters are expected on the fireground today to continue working to contain this fire.

Crews are made up of personnel from CFS, MFS, DEW and SA Forestry and are being supported by personnel from SA Police, SA Ambulance Service, the State Emergency Service and heavy plant.

A linescan aircraft undertook an imaging flight overnight and was able to provide an overview of the fire with over 2500ha burnt.

The weather was favourable overnight with low wind speeds allowing for some direct attack and backburning, however the fire is burning in inaccessible terrain with heavy fuels.

Much of this fire’s edge is still active.

Whilst rain is forecast to fall on the fireground today, it is unlikely to be enough to extinguish the fire and gusts associated with approaching rain and thunderstorms may increase fire behaviour.

This fire is expected to be active for at least several days.

A community meeting is being organised for today at 11am with the venue to be confirmed early this morning.

There are road closures in areas surrounding the fires and we are asking the community to avoid coming into the area, these road closures will continue to change as this fire progresses.

The South Eastern Freeway is still open and currently unaffected.

Road closures can be found at traffic.sa.gov.au.

For updates visit the CFS website (https://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/) or phone the Bushfire Information Hotline on 1800 362 361.