Updated December 26th, 2019 at 16:14 IST
Aus firefighters battle blazes on Christmas Day
Slightly milder conditions on Wednesday and on Boxing Day will give the state's Country Fire Service a chance at bringing the 25,000-hectare blaze to heel ahead of hot weather forecast for the weekend.
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"We've had the opportunity to make it more Christmas-y, so we're doing roast chicken and ham off the bone and cooked vegetables and gravy and pudding and custard. You know, all that. So it'll be an opportunity for us to just help them remember that it is Christmas Day."
"I saw the call out. I thought, you know, it's the least I can do with the situation. So I was happy to quickly whip up a few dozen cupcakes and contribute." "I kind of miss not being with my little girl today, but it is what it is. Someone's gotta come do it. " "I haven't been able to hide my pride in the volunteers. Just the efforts are immense and for many of them, they've sacrificed a family Christmas to come out and protect the lives and properties of strangers they'll never meet." South Australian firefighters continued to battle the devastating Adelaide Hills bushfire on Christmas Day.
Slightly milder conditions on Wednesday and on Boxing Day will give the state's Country Fire Service a chance at bringing the 25,000-hectare blaze to heel ahead of hot weather forecast for the weekend. A watch and act warning remained in place for the region, where fires have destroyed 84 homes and hundreds of other buildings as well as claimed one life.
A return to very hot weather has been forecast for the weekend, with temperatures set to top 40C together with rising winds. Members of the Salvation Army and volunteers helped prepare a Christmas lunch for the firefighters before they headed back out to fight fires. "It'll be an opportunity for us to just help them remember that it is Christmas Day," said Alan Steven of the Salvation Army. Country Fire Service Chief Mark Jones said he was inspired by the efforts of his volunteers who continue to work to bring the fire under control.
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Published December 26th, 2019 at 16:14 IST
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