Firefighters across the Adelaide Hills used Christmas Day to try to bring a devastating bushfire under control.
Slightly milder conditions on Wednesday and on Boxing Day gave the Country Fire Service some chance of bringing the 25,000-hectare blaze fully to heel ahead of the looming deterioration in conditions.
A return to very hot weather with the mercury topping 40C has been forecast for the weekend, together with rising winds, that will have authorities on edge.
A watch and act warning remains in place for the region, where fires have destroyed 84 homes and hundreds of other buildings as well as claiming one life.
CFS firefighters put out fires on Jacaranda Drive at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. Source: AAP
The Hollands Creek Road and Cudlee Creek fires remain uncontrolled, the latest update from the CFS states, with nearby residents urged to leave if they are able to.
"There are hot spots within the fire ground and although the forward rate of spread has halted should an outbreak occur it is likely to burn in a northerly direction," the warning says.
"Localised gully winds may also cause flare-ups and may have an effect on the direction of travel. Conditions are continually changing."
CFS Chief Officer Mark Jones said as the work continued to bring the fire under control, he was inspired by the efforts of his volunteers.
"You selflessly give your time, time away from your family, and you endure financial losses to put yourself in harm's way to protect the community," he said.
Mr Jones said about 200 firefighters had remained on the ground in the Hills on Wednesday.
"Fires don't discriminate whether it's Christmas Day or not and our firefighters don't discriminate either," he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison toured areas hard hit by the fire, visiting the Lobethal emergency relief centre, a CFS brigade at Woodside and a local winery, which lost its 10-hectare vineyard.
He said in almost every case, the people devastated by the fire had worked so incredibly hard to build up what was there.
"They're very determined people and my encouragement to them today is to access the help that is available," he said.
Smoke from a bushfire is seen near Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills. Source: AAP
"No one is invincible. No one can carry all of this on their own."
Mr Morrison also paid tribute the firefighters on duty across the Hills and those battling other fires around SA and across the country.
"Today may beChristmas Eve but for so many firefighters, it's going to be another day out there protecting their communities," he said.
"I thank them for their service and thank all those supporting them to keep them out there.
"And I thank their families."
A watch and act warning remains in place for the Adelaide Hills fire, which has destroyed 84 homes and hundreds of other buildings as well as claiming one life.
Daniel Kelly (orange) and Mathew Fowler next to Mr Kelly's burnt out heritage bus on his property at Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills, Adelaide, Saturday. Source: AAP
