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Source: Reuters -
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Bushfires in three South Australian regions remain out of control with fire authorities fearful of more blazes on Friday.
More than 100 bushfires were reported throughout the state on Thursday, predominantly caused by more than 25,000 lightning strikes.
Fires at Spring Gully in the Clare Valley, Wirrabra in the Flinders Ranges and Formby Bay on the lower Yorke Peninsula were out of control and of most concern to authorities early on Friday.
While scorching temperatures of above 40C throughout SA on Thursday have eased, forecasts of more lightning strikes on Friday have the Country Fire Service (CFS) on high alert.
The Spring Gully blaze is threatening 20 houses located in inaccessible areas, a CFS spokeswoman said on Friday.
At Wirrabra, at least four fires burning in steep, heavily vegetated areas are yet to be controlled. The bushfires have so far burnt 40 hectares and were caused by lightning strikes.
The Formby Bay bushfire is also yet to be contained and has burnt 30 hectares, with fears the fire will escalate as wind and temperatures increase on Friday.
The biggest bushfire on Thursday, near Curramulka on the Yorke Peninsula, burnt some 1250ha of land.
The fire was started by a mechanical fault in harvest machinery, the CFS spokeswoman said.
At the height of the blaze, which has been contained, five firefighters were injured when two CFS tankers collided in heavy smoke.
One firefighter was hospitalised with head and leg injuries, another suffered shock and the other three sustained minor injuries.
On Thursday, Adelaide recorded its hottest ever November day with a maximum of 42.8C, surpassing the previous record of 42.7C in November 1962.
Other areas of the state also baked, with Port Augusta's 44.8 Celsius among the highest.
A cool change has since moved through the state, dropping temperatures by around 15 degrees.
