'Wall of flames': Emergency warnings as South Australia battles dangerous bushfires

A South Australian farmer has posted images on social media of a serious bushfire which is threatening residents in South Australia.

Farmer Robyn Verrall posted this image showing a 'wall of flames' in South Australia's south-east.

Farmer Robyn Verrall posted this image showing a 'wall of flames' in South Australia's south-east. Source: Twitter / @robynverrall

A farmer has reported witnessing a "wall of flames" as an extremely dangerous bushfire rages out of control through scrub and grassland in South Australia's south-east.

An emergency warning was issued on Saturday afternoon for the Sherwood, Brimbago, Lowan Vale, McCallum and Senior areas near the South Australian-Victorian border.

"If you are in this area you are in danger. There is a risk to your life and property," the CFS said.

"Take shelter inside a solid building. Do not leave or enter this area in a vehicle or on foot. It is too late to leave and the roads will not be safe."

By 3pm the blaze had burnt through more than 4,000 hectares and remained a threat to farm buildings and equipment.

The CFS said more than 70 firefighters had been deployed to the area and the blaze was also being attacked by four water bombers.

Farmer Robyn Verrall said her husband was fighting the blaze which was about 20 kilometres from their property when it broke out.

Images she posted on Twitter showed trees and grass on fire while a video shows thick smoke blanketing paddocks, significantly reducing visibility.

"At (the) fire scene, it's a wall of flames," Ms Verrall said.

Police said the blaze closed the Dukes Highway at one stage but it had since reopened.

However, police said the Ngarkat Highway, between Bordertown and Pinnaroo is closed, along with Emu Flat Road.

The south-east blaze came amid soaring temperatures and catastrophic fire conditions in SA's Mt Lofty Ranges, and upper and lower southeast.

The state's 12 other districts were either severe or extreme, with authorities considering the conditions as the worst in several years.



Other fires were also burning in SA but the CFS said those at Happy Valley, Penfield and McLaren Vale had been contained.

Other incidents on Saturday included the failure of the Alert SA smartphone app designed to warn residents of emergency situations.

The operators of the app said the issues were being investigated as a "critical priority".

Adelaide had a top of 42.3C just after 1pm but by 3.30pm the mercury had dipped to about 35C as a cool change continued to move across the state.


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