Very hot weather, a north wind and the chance of a thunderstorm is bringing dangerous fire conditions across parts of the state today.

The Bureau of Meteorology and Country Fire Service have declared today to be a very high fire danger day on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. This means that while a total fire ban is not in place locally, it may be necessary to monitor conditions throughout the day.  More advice is available from the CFS Bushfire Information Hotline on 1800 362 361.

The Yorke Peninsula is under an extreme alert and other areas in the state, including the Eyre Peninsula and the West Coast, are facing a severe fire danger day.

The Bureau is predicting temperatures on the Fleurieu of up to 37 degrees, north to northeasterly winds of 30 – 45km/h and the chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. There is also a high (70%) chance of showers, most likely in the late afternoon and evening.

Mark Jones Chief Officer with the SA Country Fire Service says that the State Control Centre will be activated today for the first time in the 20/21 fire season.

Speaking a media conference yesterday, he said that the CFS learnt a lot from the last bushfire season.

“Last year South Australians did wonders by helping themselves, by listening to safety messages carried through the media,” he said.

It was a fantastic partnership between the people of this state and the emergency services of this state. I look forward to that continuing.”

Property owners, it’s your responsibility to reduce the risk on your own properties so I encourage people to tidy up, to just take the normal precautions to remove combustible materials from near the house if they live in a bushfire prone area.”

Stay safe tomorrow and throughout the rest of the bushfire season.”

The Fire Danger Season for the Mount Lofty Ranges (which includes the Fleurieu) and Kangaroo Island will officially start on 1 December.  It is already in place in other areas of the state, including the Murraylands.

The fire danger rating system goes from Low-Moderate, High, Very High, Severe, Extreme to Catastrophic.

Emergency Services Minister Vincent Tarzia has urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour on fire danger days to the police on 131 444.