Victorian firefighters return from South Australia today after fighting fires that devastated towns north of Adelaide.
A group of nearly 60 firefighters will fly from Adelaide to Moorabbin this afternoon. A further group of close to 30 are taking a bus back to Ballarat while another 19 trucks with nearly 40 crew will begin the long drive back home on Monday. DMO and IMT teams will return Tuesday.
The strike teams arrived in Adelaide on Thursday just after the height of the fires and spent two and a half days on the fireground.
The South Australian CFS declared the Pinery fire contained today. Two lives have been lost in the 82,500 ha fire and 87 homes destroyed.
A spokesperson for CFS said CFA members had done a lot of work supporting the community as well as fighting fires
"The CFA were fantastic. They worked well with everyone here," she said.
"They were out in the community checking on people who are isolated or on their own, making sure they are okay and that their property is safe."
CFA firefighters also helped construct a perimeter around the fire which is particularly important given warmer weather across the region in coming days.
"The CFA were primarily responsible for the protection of a multi-million dollar fodder storage facility," she said.
"Last night they were on the way back to the staging area when they responded to a call at Bagot Well where farm machinery caught fire. Thanks to their efforts that fire was restricted to 10 ha."
Related story: Strike Team 1314 helps families in SA.
Author: CFA Media