‘We could see the glow and smell the smoke’: residents warned as fires burn south of Adelaide | South Australia
South Australian residents have described seeing flames and smelling smoke from the bushfire, which has scorched hundreds of hectares and destroyed structures as emergency crews scrambled to bring the blaze under control.
The bushfire burning east of Mount Compass on the Fleurieu Peninsula, south of Adelaide, broke out around 4.30pm on Sunday.
At least three structures were affected by the fire, which burned more than 650 hectares of land, and it was reported that a family of five lost their home.
More than 120 firefighters, including volunteers, along with 60 vehicles and water bombers, continued to fight the fire in Tooperang and tried to limit the impact of the fire.
“The fire is currently burning in grass and bushes and cannot be controlled,” the SA Country Fire Brigade said in a statement.
The Country Fire Service said crews were working intensively on inaccessible terrain and “will continue to work throughout the day to extinguish the fire ahead of a wind change forecast around midday today”.
A watch and action alert was issued on Monday morning for areas including Tooperang, Nangkita, Jagged Mountain and Mosquito Hill.
“Prepare to go. Take action immediately as this bushfire may threaten your safety,” the country’s Fire Brigade message said.
Alpaca farmer Chris Williams had a tense night after being warned the fire was heading towards his Mount Compass property.
“It was a concern. We could see the glow and smell the smoke. It wasn’t a good feeling,” he said.
This is not the first fire to threaten the alpaca farm in the heart of the cattle country after extensive damage in 2019.
“Back then it was coming within 75 yards of the house. This time we weren’t taking any chances,” Williams said.
“Forest fire is a monster. It has no respect for any property or property. It creates its own atmosphere and burns everywhere and everything it wants.
“All you can do is prepare the best you can, but that’s farming.”
Surrounded by an “army of family,” Williams said conditions had eased overnight and he was hopeful the fire would be brought under control.
Roads were closed throughout the area but no injuries were reported.
A woman said her family of five’s caravan on a field in Nangkita was destroyed by fire within 20 minutes of receiving an evacuation warning.
“It was like a war zone,” Natasha Price told ABC Radio.
Local state MP David Basham, who owns a dairy farm in the area, said locals helped move the cattle to safety.
“I went with a friend who owns property directly where the fire occurred,” Basham said on social media.
Fire danger rates remain high across much of South Australia this week.
Australia experienced this Fourth hottest year on record in 2025According to BoM, average temperatures across the country rose to 1.23C.
The climate crisis has increased the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heat waves and wildfires.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said much of Australia could expect “stable weather” on Tuesday due to a high pressure system south of Western Australia.
Warmer than average days and nights were expected to continue through April across much of the country, according to the bureau’s latest long-range forecast. Sea surface temperatures will remain above the global average, including around Australia.
