Strike Team - Yankalilla - November 29 2003

Sturt Group responded a strike team consisting of appliances from Belair, Blackwood, Cherry Gardens, Coromandel Valley and Cherry Gardens to Yankalilla whre a number of fires were started by lightning.

The strike team was tasked to the Kemmiss Hill fire. The fire is one of up to seven that started in the region after a series of lightning strikes hit the ground following a storm front.

The large fires burning at Kemmiss Hill and Smith Hill both impacted on homes, with crews forcing to perform asset protection to defend a number of houses.

The Kemmiss Hill fire was within three kilometres of the Yankalilla township, prompting the CFS to issue a Phase One warning to advise residents in the Yankalilla township of the advancing bushfire.

Another scrub fire was burning in an area known as Kentish Downs to the south east of Yankalilla.

Meanwhile the CFS has also received reports of up to six scrub fires burning uncontrolled on Kangaroo Island after a series of lightening strikes.

Later that night as crews were taking soe "R & R" at Yankalilla Oval, the skies opened up with hail stones the size of 1 cent pieces and a deluge of water.

The smoke plume from the Kemmiss Hill fire prior to arrival

Crew of Belair 14 getting to work

Flames eminating from the scrub line

View of the main fire gully

Another view of the main fire gully

A interesting phenonemon during the firefighting