Humanity Road received an activation request to support Adelaide Hills Fire Alert community via their facebook and twitter links. The Adelaides Hills Australia bushfire began just before 1:00pm (ACST) on Friday Jan 2, 2015 at Sampson Flat, about 38 kilometres north-west of Adelaide in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges. Volunteers have been monitoring social media for urgent needs and amplifying public instructions, the following is information about key social media accounts for updated information.
Situation Report – (period covered: Jan 4 -7, 2015)
Prepared by: Humanity Road / Animals in Disaster Follow: @Humanityroad / @Disasteranimals / @jAIDDog
Situation Overview
Background
Adelaide Hills Australia bushfire began just before 1:00pm (ACST) on Friday Jan 2, 2015 at Sampson Flat, about 38 kilometres north-west of Adelaide in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges. Strong winds fanned the blaze to burn through more than 20,000 hectares on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, within a 238-kilometre perimeter. More than 350 families have registered with the two relief centres at the Golden Grove Recreation Centre and Willaston Football Club. Ninety have been granted financial assistance and 37 given temporary accommodation. Assessments are in still in progress but current reports indicate the fire has burnt more than 12,000 hectares and destroyed or badly damaged 26 homes, A total of 41 outbuildings, such as sheds, have also been destroyed or damaged, but that number was expected to climb as assessments continued, it has caused the hospitalisation of 29 people, including one serious asthma attack on Monday. (source)
Humanity Road is activated to support Adelaide Hills Community Via Adelaide Hills Fire Alerts https://twitter.com/HillsFirealert and https://www.facebook.com/groups/hillsfirealert/ .
Road Closures
Road closures are changing constantly as the fire activity changes and the risk of falling trees on roads increases. Refer to the South Australia Police website for details.
What you can do. Anyone within 10 kms of this fire needs to listen to Australian Broadcasting CorporationLocal Radio or other emergency broadcasters for Bushfire Emergency Warning, Watch and Act and Advice Messages and implement your Bushfire Survival Plan. Be alert and aware of the situation. If you do not have a Bushfire Survival Plan leave now as long as the road is clear to a safer place.
Where can you go? See the CFS website for details of Bushfire Safer Precincts.
Significant Updates (most recent first)
7 Jan:
Rain has begun falling in parts of Adelaide, but lightning strikes are also causing grass fires. For the latest updates on grass fire locations, see CFS Warnings and Incidents.
A watch and act alert remains in place and residents who are not prepared to defend their homes have been told to leave. The risk of flare-ups remains and there is “a predicted potential of dry lightning” later today. Additional crews have been brought in from interstate overnight, as well as rapid interstate assessment teams, in a bid to confirm the final amount of losses by 5:00pm (ACDT). About 350 claims had been lodged with insurers by victims of the bushfire, with insured losses of more than $13 million, as of 9:00am today. Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) disaster specialists have arrived in Adelaide to assist victims with their insurance claims. The ICA’s disaster hotline, 1800 734 621, is offering support for affected residents who have general inquiries about the claims process. Some roads have been reopened but CFS warns that debris, fallen trees and powerlines still pose a risk to people. (source)
Animal welfare teams have entered the devastation zone as farmers euthanase stock. Fauna rescue teams say the Adelaide Hills bushfire has been so intense they are expecting a low survival rate among animals in the fire zone. For the past few days, animal shelters across Adelaide have acted as drop-off points for dogs and cats while horses have been re-located to areas around the city, including Morphettville race course. The Primary Industries Department’s chief veterinary officer, Roger Paskin, said it was too early to tell how many stock had died. (Source)
Latest CFS Watch and Act report, 2:19, 7/1/15 (Source).
6 Jan:
416 families registered at relief centres, 800 families visited relief centres, 107 families received grant assistance (Source).
440 cattle have been located on properties, 14 have died as a result of the fire, 7 have been destroyed (Source). 1000 sheep have been located on properties, 40 have died as a result of the fire, 51 have been destroyed (Source).
4 Jan: Via Community Newsletter
Sampson Flat Fire
Sunday 4th January at 2.30pm
Situation via Leith Mudge
A serious bushfire started at about 10:00 am Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) on January 2, 2015 and has burnt approximately 11,000 hectares thus far. The fire is approximately 20 km long and 15 km wide. It continues to burn and cause concern in woodland and grassland in mostly steep and inaccessible terrain at Sampson Flat in the Mount Lofty Ranges near One Tree Hill, Humbug Scrub, Para Wirra Recreation Park, Mount Crawford, Kersbrook, Birdwood, Gumeracha, Kenton Valley, Cudlee Creek area and Inglewood.
Weather and Impact Predictions
Wind from different directions are blowing across the area and is making it difficult for fire crews to extinguish active fires. Some fire activity is occurring in inaccessible areas and strategies are being implemented to deal with these conditions and ensure the safety of firefighters.
There are a significant number of trees that have either fallen across roads or have the potential to fall over in the next few days. These hazards pose a danger to people and animals living and working within the areas and is delaying the return of residents to their homes.
National Links
Australian Emergency Management
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Regional & Local Links
Australian Citizens Radio Emergency @cbemergency
SA Health Department: Website, Twitter
SA Police: Webpage, Twitter, Facebook
SA Ambulance Service: Website
SA Metropolitan Fire Service: Website, Twitter
SA Country Fire Service: Website, Twitter
SA State Emergency Service (SES): Website
SA Fire & Emergency Svc Commission: Website
Alert SA: Website
Adelaide Hills Fire Alert: Twitter, Facebook
Adelaide Hills Community: Twitter, Facebook
Adelaide City Council: Website
Adelaide Hills Council: Website
City of Playford Home Council: Website
Tea Tree Gully Council: Website, Twitter, Facebook
Communications Emergency Numbers
List of phone and broadband suppliers in Adelaide: http://bit.ly/1wei479
Status Reports
4 Jan: Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager for South Australia South, Mark Bolton, said there has been damage to some Telstra infrastructure due to bushfires. Repairs will be made once field teams gain safe access to sites. Customers should call Telstra on 132 203 (press option 1 and enter their full home phone including area code) to report a fault and register for the assistance package if they have had to evacuate their home or have lost their home. (source)
Emergencies
–Emergency: 000
–TTY User: 106
–Speak and Listen users: 1800 555 727 then ask for 000
–Internet Relay users: go to http://bit.ly/14egDya, then type in 000
–CFS Hotline: 1300 362 361
Information/Helplines
–TTY users: 133 677
–Speak and Listen users: 1300 555 727
–SMS to the NRS: 0423 677 767 (include short message & info you need)
–Video Relay Users: choose the nrs.videorelay contact on Skype that is online, ask for emergency services information number that you need.
–Internet Relay users: go to http://bit.ly/14egDya and type in emergency services information number that you need.
–Bushfire Information Hotline: 1300 263 261
–CFS Bushfire Information Hotline: 1300 362 361
–SA Bushfire Recovery Hotline: 1800 302 787
–CFS Headquarters: 8463 4200
–Burn off notification: 1300 362 361
–Metro Fire Service Inquiries: (08) 8204 3600
–SES Rescue General Inquiries: (08) 8463 4171
–Non-urgent police assistance: 131 444
–Road conditions and closures: 1300 361 033
–Downed power lines: 13 13 16
–Insurance Council of Australia disaster hotline: 1800 734 621
–Animal Carcass Disposal: (08) 8204 2004, 1800 623 445
–RSPCA (injured pets, livestock): 1300 477 722
–Animal Welfare League (temp pet boarding): 8348 1300
–Fauna Rescue (wildlife): 08 8289 0896
–Koala Hotline: (08) 7226 0017
–Flying-fox Hotline: 0474 204 617
Mental health crisis lines
–Lifeline: 13 11 14
–Mens Line Australia: 1300 78 99 78
–Suicide Call back Service: 1300 659 467
–Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
–Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
–Emergency Triage Liaison Service (psychological support): 13 14 65
Reunification & Other Assistance
Red Cross Register.Find.Reunite Program
Red Cross Tel: 08 8100 4500
Status of Hospitals
Gumeracha Hospital
6 Jan – closed to new admissions until further notice. 21 patients and aged care residents have been relocated or discharged. Will provide emergency first aid to officials and firefighters if needed. (Source)
Mount Pleasant Hospital
6 Jan – closed to new admissions until further notice. 24 patients and aged care residents have been relocated to other hospitals in the Barossa Valley region or discharged home to family and friends. Will provide emergency first aid to officials and firefighters if needed. (Source)
Royal Adelaide Hospital – open and functioning
Modbury Hospital – open and functioning
Lyell McEwin Hospital – open and functioning
Alternative Hospitals:
Anyone who requires urgent medical attention should call 000 for ambulance assistance immediately. If you decide to make your own way to hospital, please attend Murray Bridge or Mannum Hospitals in the first instance or alternatively Angaston Hospital. (Source)
Shelters & Relief
The following Relief Centres are providing food, financial assistance and emergency accommodations:
1. Golden Grove Recreation Centre (The Golden Way, Golden Grove) View Golden Grove Recreation Centre on Google Maps
2. Willaston Football Club (Murray Street, Gawler).View Willaston Football Club on Google Maps
Vets4Pets – Golden Grove hospital site has been opened to emergency boarders and rescues as well as a donations center
Red Cross
Offices & Contact Information
South Australia Red Cross
212 Pirie Street Adelaide SA 5000
Mailing Address: GPO Box 2265, Adelaide SA 5001
Tel: 08 8100 4500
Fax: 08 8100 4501
Blood Service Tel: 13 14 95
First Aid Tel: 1300 367 428
REGISTER.FIND.REUNITE – RED CROSS
The Red Cross has establsihed their Register.Find.Reunite program to help people affected by the Sampson Flat fire let their family and friends know that they are safe http://bit.ly/1wQ6DBu.
Vulnerable Populations
Information for Seniors
Follow @SeniorsInfoSvc
Access2HomeCare
Follow @SA_DCSI
Adelaide City Council – Seniors
Crisis Counseling
Country North SA Medicare Local (CNSAML) offering counseling via referral from a GP. GPs can fax letter with “Bushfire Support”. For more info, call 8565 8500 or see here: http://bit.ly/1KkrcAL
Trans/Infrastructure/Roads Maps/Situational Awareness
Adelaide Airport: Twitter, Facebook
Metro
Adelaide Metro
Info line: 1300 311 108
Toll free: 1800 182 160
TTY: 8303 0844
8am, 5 Jan: Link SA services 800 & 801 Mount Pleasant and Mount Torrens to Tea Tree Plaza have been cancelled until further notice
Highways/Roads Road Closure Information:
South Australia Dept of Planning, Transport, & Infrastructure
South Australian Country Fire Service
SA Fire Road Closures Map
Road conditions and closures: 1300 361 033
Bushfire Information Hotline: 1300 362 361
Local radio and TV (ABC, 5AA)
Maps
Australia Fires Google Crisis Map
SA Fire Road Closures Map
Sampson Flat Fire – Road Closures, 1800 hrs 5/1/15
Sampson Flat Fire – Road Status, 1700 hrs, 5/1/15
Sampson Flat Fire – Public Information Map, 0900 hrs, 5/1/15
Situation Information
South Australian Government Bushfire Information Page
Power & Gas Water Companies & Contact Information
SA Power Network Outages
Major outages due to the bushfires, work in affected regions is suspended as workers are unable to access equipment
SA Water: Service problems: 1300 883 121 Twitter
Twitter Hashtags:
#SAfires
#bushfires
#AdelHills
#Adelaide
#SampsonFlat
Twitter Accounts of Interest
Adelaide Area:
@Hit107AdelaideSouth Australia:
Facebook Accounts of Interest
Hills Fire Alert – fire-related information for Adelaide Hills.
Adelaide Fires 2015 – information, updates, support and donations for those affected by fires.
Adelaide Hills Fire Relief – help relieve pressure for animals, residents, and fire fighters.
Bushfires SA Assistance – request assistance or offer support to bushfire victims.
Helping hands for bushfire Humbug Scrub – post if you need some help or have the ability to help.
National Animal Rescue Groups of Australia – helps coordinate disaster response, volunteers and calls for action.
Open Paddocks SA – post available paddock or stable space for livestock during bushfires.
Sampson Flat Fire Updates – live updates from the Australian Emergency Services live audio feed (this page does not have direct contact with emergency services).
Statewide Community Assistance Database – offers of help and resources.
Fauna Rescue of South Australia
Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Hospital
Traditional Media and blogs
Nine News Adelaide: @9NewsAdele, Facebook
Seven News Adelaide: Website, @7NewsAdelaide, Facebook
891 ABC Adelaide: Website, @891Adelaide
ABC News Adelaide: Website, @ABCNewsAdelaide
Ten News Adelaide: Website, @TenNewsAdele, Facebook
Hit 107 Adelaide: Website, @Hit107Adelaide
Animals in Disaster General Information
Jan 5: General information including boarding, feed, vet care: http://bit.ly/1xLcxbg
Jan 3: Tea Tree Gully Boarding Kennel and Cattery hit by fire (pet casualties) http://bit.ly/1Kf2yRV
Animal Shelters
Tel: 8289 3722
(some surviving dogs from fire have been relocated to various Vets4Pets surgeries. They will endeavor to contact owners).
Paddocks taking horses and lifestock: http://on.fb.me/1Kf37ex
Animal Welfare League of SA
Tel: 8252 1999 between 10 am and 3 pm
(information about temporary pet boarding)
Veterinary Care
University of Adelaide Veterinary School (open to treat injured animals)
Roseworthy Campus
1454 Mudla Wirra Rd, Roseworthy
Phone: 8313 1999
Fax: 8313 7736
Email: Website
Tel: 8348 1300
(Temporary pet boarding, pet food and supplies)
Pets and Their People Vet Surgeries
They are offering free consultations for pets (excluding horses) that have been injured in the fire. Medications will be charged at cost only. Please phone a surgery for advice or an appointment:
Fulham Gardens – 8355 5475
Black Forest – 8351 6066
Unley – 8272 3400.
To volunteer to help with the care of animals, contact Volunteering SA.
RSPCA
Tel: 1300 477 722
(injured pets or livestock)
Livestock and Wildlife
Livestock SA
Tel: 8297 2299
(Landowners who need advice on issues such as agistment of animals, volunteering assistance or fodder)
RSPCA
Call for injured pets or livestock: 1300 477 722
PIRSA Stock Assessment Hotline
Tel: 8207 7847
(For advice on burnt livestock requiring urgent assistance)
Livestock SA and Primary Producers SA
Tel: 8297 2299
(register for livestock owners needing fodder or agistment for cattle, sheep and goats).
Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Hospital
Website, Facebook
Tel: (08) 8297 2455
(Extended hours to help impacted animals. Vet nurse and vets on site).
Fauna Rescue of South Australia
24 hour rescue hotline: 08 8289 0896
Koala Hotline: (08) 7226 0017
Flying-fox Hotline: 0474 204 617
AMWRRO
Call for injured marine wildlife or seabirds: (08) 262 5452 or (08) 8378 3364 or 0411 057 551.
Animal Carcass Disposal
For assistance, call (08) 8204 2004, 1800 623 445
Email: Relief Centres are providing food, financial assistance and emergency accommodations:
1. Golden Grove Recreation Centre (The Golden Way, Golden Grove) View Golden Grove Recreation Centre on Google Maps
2. Willaston Football Club (Murray Street, Gawler).View Willaston Football Club on Google Maps
SA Bushfire Recovery hotline – 1800 302 787
(for people who have lost their home, suffered trauma or other loss; or for others wanting to provide financial donations. Grants are available for essential items such as food and clothing).
Donations:
Large hay bales oaten, wheaten, Trit needed for livestock: http://on.fb.me/1AgMCeW
Livestock SA and Primary Producers SA are seeking donations of hay and other stock fodder for cattle, sheep and goats – phone 8297 2299 (Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm).
Stock feed can also be donated to RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter (25 Meyer Road, Lonsdale) weekdays between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm weekdays or 10.00 am to 2.00 pm weekends.
Pet food (dry or wet), towels and blankets can be donated to the RSPCA Lonsdale shelter or Stepney office (16 Nelson St, Stepney) during business hours 9.00 am to – 5.00 pm.
Ways to help: http://bit.ly/1ytEDuj
Volunteering:
SA Bushfire Recovery: if you’d like to volunteer to help in the recovery stage, register athttp://www.volunteeringsa-nt.org.au or call 1300 782 322.
To volunteer to help with the care of animals, contact Volunteering SA.
Animal Welfare League – to volunteer, contact them via email at contactus@awlsa.com.au with your name, address, phone number, email address, your skills and your availability.
Volunteers Reporting
Cat, Alice, Allyson, Aline, Cindy, Mishelle, Julie, Anne, Sarah, Alberto