Residents on the Fleurieu Peninsula are beginning to assess the damage from a major bushfire near Tooperang, as fire crews continue working to contain the blaze.
The Tooperang grassfire, burning about five kilometres east of Mount Compass, has now burnt approximately 650 hectares of scrub, grass and plantation between Nangkita Road and Cleland Gully Road since it began on Sunday afternoon.
The Country Fire Service is not deeming the cause to be suspicious at this stage, believing the fire may have been sparked by a vehicle with mechanical issues. They are working with SAPOL to learn more.
The fire was downgraded from a Watch and Act message to an Advice level yesterday (Monday the 19th January), but the Country Fire Service says it is not yet contained (as of Tuesday morning).
More than 70 CFS volunteer firefighters and 20 trucks have been working on the fireground overnight, supported by multiple agencies including SA Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Fire Service, Forestry SA, the SES and Farm Fire Units. Firebombing aircraft carried out more than 50 drops on Monday to assist ground crews, with backburning continuing into the night to strengthen containment lines.
Three structures have been confirmed lost, with damage also reported to vineyards, farmland and vegetation. Livestock losses are also expected, though the full extent is still being assessed. Nangkita Road and Cleland Gully Road remain closed, with residents urged to stay away from the area.
Among those impacted is resident Natasha Price, whose family lost their converted motorhome at Ngankita during the fire.
The mother of three has described the scene along Nangkita Road as dark and blackened, with trees gone and small fires still glowing across the ground. She said while the main house on the property survived, the surrounding land, around 30 acres of conservation work, had been burnt.
The family stayed with relatives overnight and is now facing uncertainty about what comes next.
Other residents have also reported significant losses. At least two homes have been destroyed, with several sheds and farm structures damaged or lost. Emergency services say numerous properties were saved due to firefighting efforts under difficult conditions.
CFS crews remain focused on asset protection and preventing further spread, particularly around Waterfall Drive, Nangkita Road and Cleland Gully Road. Smoke is expected to remain visible across the area into today.
Residents are being urged to continue monitoring official warnings and to avoid the fireground while firefighting operations continue.
For the latest information on the fire, head to the CFS website.
