Australia Weather News
The fire was contained by prescribed burns conducted from as far back as 2009. (Supplied: National Parks and Wildlife Service SA)
A bushfire that has been burning in South Australia's Flinders Ranges for the past month has been brought under control.
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) said the blaze started on February 3 and burned about 5,414 hectares, or approximately 30 per cent, of Mount Remarkable National Park.
About 20 per cent of the destruction was done in the first four days.
About 1,200 firefighters and 267 trucks were involved in the effort to contain the blaze and 554 aerial drops requiring 1.4 million litres of product were conducted.
Wilmington local and firefighter Michael Wigg was badly injured on the first day and remains in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Last week the CFS handed the management of the fire over to the Department of Environment and Water.
National Parks and Wildlife Service Yorke and Mid North region manager Craig Nixon said the fire showed just how effective prescribed burns could be in difficult terrain.
He said burns had been conducted in the park since 2009, but those from 2021 to 2023 were instrumental in boxing the fire in from the east and south "in a U shape".
"[It is under] very, very dry conditions. The terrain is really, really steep and rocky," Mr Nixon said.
"If this had happened 10 years ago we probably would have lost the entire park, or at least 80 per cent of the park, to fire."
Animals able to escape
Mr Nixon said the only infrastructure damaged was a toilet block in the Alligator Gorge car park, but the 20-kilometre stretch of the Heysen Trail in that area would need repairing.
The Alligator Gorge section, including the lodge and campsites, has been closed until further notice.
"The experience we had with the Bangor fire of 2014, we know this could have been a lot worse and we could have been still chasing this fire … if we hadn't been able to contain the fire in the north of the park," Mr Nixon said.
"Talking to crews they have not noticed any dead kangaroos or other wildlife.
"It may be, the way the fire moved, it enabled wildlife to keep ahead of it."
Melrose CFS farm fire unit coordinator Andrew Walter said units came from all over the Mid North and Flinders Ranges to help from day one.
He said more than 130 farmers joined a Facebook group chat to get involved, and they delivered nearly half a million litres of water to firefighters every day.
"The first day or two of the fire had shown that Wilmington's town water supply was really going to struggle to keep up with the amount of water that was needed," Mr Walters said.
"We ended up with four semi-trailers and a rigid truck all with water tanks on them.
"They were doing up to seven or eight loads per day, per truck.
"A local farmer has a bore about 15 kilometres out of town that has good water and good supply so he said, 'Feel free to fill it up there.'"
He said they also helped clear tracks, escort machinery, deliver supplies and liaise with local landholders.
A community effort
Mr Walter said fires could highlight "community spirit" in difficult situations.
"People are willing to stop what they're doing, down tools, and just contribute," he said.
CFS volunteers travelled from as far as Roxby Downs, Mount Lofty Ranges and Mount Gambier with appliances from their home brigades.
NPWS began assessing damage to the park last Thursday after CFS handed control over the area to the department last Monday.
Park visitors can currently access sections of Mount Remarkable National Park not affected by fire, including the Mambray Creek, Willowie, and Melrose entrances.
The CFS has rated the ongoing fire as controlled.
It said it was ignited by a lightning strike.
ABC