Multiple agencies, career and volunteer firefighters have responded to wildfires across the Alice Springs rural area.
Over the past 7 days, several challenging and significant wildfires have impacted the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) response area, concurrently with equally difficult fires in the wider Central Desert and MacDonnell Regions.
Two Watch and Act messages and an Emergency Warning were issued for wildfires near Colonel Rose Drive and Schaber Road in Alice Springs. One fire was dangerously close to over 60 properties, and sadly on Friday, a house was destroyed and another significantly damaged. Thankfully no serious injuries or loss of life occurred.
Through the incredible work of members from the NTFRS, Bushfires NT, NT Police, volunteers, and every other government and non-government agency that assisted, this fire was controlled, and further impact on the community was minimised.
Acting Chief Fire Officer Joshua Fischer said, “I would like to personally thank everyone involved in this response, including the Alice Springs Community, who have shown tremendous support to our members and incredible resilience in the face of these fires.
“Yesterday, additional volunteers deployed from the Top End to Alice Springs to assist. The Territory’s vast volunteer network is a testament to this community's dedication to immediately helping those in need when the time arises.
“The NTFRS together with NT Police is undertaking enquires as to the cause of these fires. These incidents remain under investigation and if any one has any information that could assist they should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
“The central Australian bushfire season will continue until the end of April. NTFRS continues to urge residents in central Australia to have bushfire survival plans and maintain firebreaks of at least 4m within the perimeter boundary of their properties. Firebreaks should be free from slashed or dead material and have no vegetation over 50 millimetres high.”
All Territorians are encouraged to plan and prepare for the risk of bushfires by going to https://bit.ly/3wyOdwg
