The region’s fire danger season has ended, but it’s important to remember that the ongoing drought means fire risks are still present.
While we’ve had a few small showers in recent weeks, the region’s landscape remains extremely dry, with very little moisture or greenery in the area.
Warm and dry conditions have persisted in southern Australia since last year, with summer 2024/25 SA’s driest since 2018/19.
The Hills also experienced one of its driest summers on record, with rainfall well below average and average temperatures exceeding old records in some places.
Mt Lofty recorded just 51mm of rain during summer, compared with its average summer rainfall of 125mm.
Meanwhile, Mt Barker recorded its hottest summer mean maximum temperature since local records began 62 years ago – with the previous record made in 2001.
Mt Barker also reported only 38.8mm of rain over the summer period, compared with an average of 87.2mm.
As was reported last week, these drought conditions have prompted environmental stakeholders to raise concerns about tree dieback, which undoubtedly will contribute to fuel load.
These dead trees, along with dead or dry plants and branches that may have built up in parks, reserves, roadsides and properties, still pose a fire risk, even as the weather cools.
So despite the relaxation of some rules and regulations as we head into winter – with some fire-related activities, such as burn-offs and pile burns, now permitted without a permit – it is important that people don’t become complacent and still take steps to ensure what they’re doing is safe.
This includes staying informed about and following CFS safety advice and ensuring any potentially risky activities are carried out in the safest manner possible.
The weather may be cooling, but we still need to work together to ensure we don’t become complacent about fire safety.
