SA hit by two fires within 12 months

The fire burning north of Adelaide is the second major blaze to hit South Australia within the past 12 months.

South Australia has been hit by two devastating bushfire within 12 months and authorities have warned more could be just around the corner.

A major blaze continues to burn north of the city, close to a string of towns.

It claimed two lives on Wednesday, with another 13 people injured, and destroyed 16 homes along with other buildings, vehicles and farm machinery.

In January an equally ferocious blaze ripped through the Adelaide Hills.

No lives were lost but the fire destroyed 27 homes and injured 134 people, mainly firefighters.

About 13,000 hectares of land was destroyed, mostly heavily wooded forest or scrub.

Both fires were sparked amid catastrophic conditions with high temperatures and strong winds, with the current blaze staggering fire crews with its speed.

It travelled more than 50km in four hours as it burnt through 85,000ha of mostly grass, and cropping land.

Country Fire Service chief officer Greg Nettleton said it might still be early in SA's fire season but the land was incredibly dry and only long, soaking rain would cut the fire risk.

"Until we get really substantial rainfall across the state, we're in a dangerous fire situation for the summer," he said.

Mr Nettleton said Wednesday's inferno was a demonstration of what could easily happen again in the coming months.

"It's November, and we've still got December, January, February and March to get through," he said.


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Source: AAP



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