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South Australia’s aerial firefighting fleet has completed nearly twice as many drops this fire season as last year, with hot and dry conditions continuing to threaten the state.
This season has seen around 3,000 drops by both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, up from 1,399 hours in the previous period, which the state government has attributed to longer and larger fire incidents.
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“Hours flown are well up – 1,920 hours this season in contrast to 1,399 hours in the previous period – highlighting longer and larger incidents responded to from the air,” the SA government said in a press release.
“Aerial resources have played a critical role in supporting crews on the ground to suppress fires and help protect communities, with more than 1,300 individual aircraft dispatches attending over 200 incidents this season.
“Significant incidents include the Wilmington fire, in the Flinders Ranges, in February and blazes sparked by lightning strikes across the South East last month.”
Brenton Hastie, acting deputy chief officer for the SA Country Fire Service, warned that the Mount Lofty Ranges continue to be in danger, with fire bans in the region extended by two weeks.
“Fuel loads vary across the Mount Lofty Ranges, with high forest and scrub fuels in parts and somewhat low fuels in others, and the exceptionally dry conditions and lack of forecast rain in the near future poses a risk of fire,” Hastie said.
“Volunteers have worked incredibly hard to keep the South Australian community safe throughout this Fire Danger Season and will continue to respond to incidents across the state, but the community need to be aware that the risk of fire won’t abate until there is significant rainfall.”
SA Emergency Services Minister Emily Bourke said conditions “remain a concern for frontline personnel”, particularly in the Mount Lofty Ranges, after “the driest summer we’ve seen in years”.
“CFS volunteers on the ground have been supported by crews in the sky, with our aerial fleet recording more drops and hours flown than last season,” she said.
“Their combined skills protect communities across the state and South Australians are reminded to follow simple steps to help volunteers get a break this Easter.”
The SA government in its 2023–24 budget had invested $26.7 million into its aerial firefighting fleet, which then-emergency services minister Joe Szakacs called the “largest of its kind in a generation”. The investment was earmarked for nine additional aircraft in the fleet.
“An upgraded aerial firefighting fleet is critical in supporting front line firefighters and protecting communities,” Szakacs said at the time.
“In our changing climate, where bushfires are becoming more frequent and more intense, we need boots on the ground and aerial firefighting planes in the air.”
The news comes after the former fire commissioner, who predicted 2020’s Black Summer, warned in January that midwinter blazes in North America threaten Australia’s ability to acquire firefighting aircraft.
