SA: Arson suspected in two SA bush fires

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2004
SA: Arson suspected in two SA bush fires

An arsonist is believed to have started two fires in South Australia, with the state
on high bushfire alert amid an ongoing heatwave.

The fires, which are about 500 metres apart, were quickly controlled by Country Fire
Service crews at Nairne in the Adelaide Hills about 11.30 am (CDT) today.

A Country Fire Service spokesman says a water bombing plane extinguished one of the
blazes, containing it to an area of about 30 metres, while the other fire burnt about
three hectares of grassland.

Temperatures across SA approached 35 degrees Celsius after temperatures in Adelaide
reached 42.3 degrees yesterday.

The temperature in Adelaide hit 44.3 degrees on Saturday -- the city's hottest day
since 1939 and the hottest February day on record.

The SA government says the state was lucky to get through the weekend danger period.

AAP RTV sl/as/rt

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES SA (ADELAIDE)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.