SA:Bushfire in Adelaide foothills could have been arson: CFS

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2004
SA:Bushfire in Adelaide foothills could have been arson: CFS

ADELAIDE, April 10 AAP - A bushfire in the Adelaide foothills was contained this afternoon,
but could have been the result of arson, the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS)
said today.

No homes were damaged in the blaze, which at one stage came within 400 metres of a
popular wildlife park.

About 60 volunteer firefighters and two water bombing aircraft contained the fire about
midday (CST), a CFS spokeswoman said.

The blaze, which started about 6am (CST), destroyed five hectares of grassland, the
spokeswoman said.

"It was burning very slowly and the weather was quite mild, which assisted our efforts.

"Crews will remain at the scene mopping up for several hours.

"We can't rule arson out, but we still need to have our fire investigators attend the scene."

A spokesman for the The Cleland Conservation and Wildlife Park said the fire forced
the closure of the popular tourist attraction but it had since re-opened.

Park rangers stayed with the animals, which included koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles
and emus, and turned on an internal irrigation system to the protect the centre.

"All the animals are fine," the spokesman said.

AAP smb/cdh/jlwr

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES SA NIGHTLEAD

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