Two dead in South Australian fires

The Country Fire Service said the blaze continued to burn on a 40km front, with a perimetre of about 211km.

“Reports from the aircraft are that there is no active fire around the perimeter”, it read.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says families affected by the fire can receive immediate $700 payments with more assistance to follow.

He said some parts of the more than 200km perimeter would be easy to contain and render safe but others would take time to contain.

Interstate fire crews will be on the ground on Friday to help over the next two to three days.

Mr Weatherill says the final cause has not been established but from initial investigations it appears the fire was not deliberately lit.

The blaze has claimed several homes and properties.

Nettleton said it might still be early in the fire season but the land in South Australia was incredibly dry and only long, soaking rain would cut the fire risk.

Eden said the fire on Wednesday had been the fastest moving he had seen in more than a decade, fanned by wind gusts of up to 90 kph (56 mph).

CFS state co-ordnadtor Phil McDonagh this morning said conditions in the bushfire area had improved significantly, though there were still strong breezes across fire ground.

John Lush, a farmer from Mallala, told ABC radio he watched helplessly as 25 metre high flames threatened his home which in the end was luckily spared.

However, under current conditions, the fires are not expected to grow.

“It’s quietened right down”.

Hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the blaze north of Adelaide, including strike teams from Victoria, which they hope to bring it under control today.

“Everyone in South Australia yesterday who was either trying to combat that fire or who lived in that area was totally stunned by the speed of that fire”, Eden told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television.

Fire bans have been introduced in four regions in NSW: Greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Northern Slopes and Northern Western regions.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology declared October the hottest month on record.