SCHOOLS across Yorke Peninsula will close tomorrow (Friday, December 8) in response to a catastrophic fire danger rating being declared across the region.
Six schools — Bute Early Learning and Primary, Port Broughton Area, Moonta Area, Wallaroo Mines Primary, Yorketown Area and St Columba's Memorial — will shut their doors to students and staff in the interest of safety.
Bus services will also not run to and from many sites across YP, with parents being asked to make alternative transport arrangements for their children.
A SCMS spokesperson said it had enacted its bushfire response plan due to the risk posed by the forecasted conditions.
"This afternoon the BOM alongside the CFS have advised that the Yorke Peninsula has been given a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating for tomorrow (Friday, December 8)," the spokesperson said.
"No staff will be on school site (and) no Department buses or SCMS vans will run.
"These measures are taken to ensure the safety of all students and staff, as our site is considered a high-risk setting, as are all education centres in Yorketown.
"Thank you for your continued understanding and stay safe."
CFS chief officer Brett Loughlin ASFM said the combination of strong winds, high temperatures and dry lighting poses the worst-case scenario for bushfire activity and is urging South Australians to enact their bushfire plans.
"Our volunteer firefighters are on high alert and ready to respond, however, fires can threaten suddenly, without warning and can travel very fast, so it's important the community are alert to what's happening around them," Mr Loughlin said.
"Although many parts of South Australia have experienced wet weather recently, the hot temperatures, strong winds and fuel loads across the state paired with the significant risk of dry lightning will mean communities may face threats from fast-moving, intense grass fires.
"A Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating is the most dangerous conditions for a fire and if one starts and takes hold, lives could be lost, so the safest place to be is away from high-risk bushfire areas."
SEE THE LIST: Yorke Peninsula school statuses
CLOSED
- Bute Early Learning and Primary School
- Moonta Area School
- Moonta Kindergarten
- St Columba's Memorial School, Yorketown
- Port Broughton Area School
- Wallaroo Mines Primary School
- Yorketown Area School
- Yorketown Community Children's Centre
OPEN
- Ardrossan Area School
- Curramulka Primary School
- Central Yorke School, Maitland
- Kadina Memorial School
- Maitland Lutheran School
- Minlaton District School
- St Mary MacKillop School, Wallaroo
- Stansbury Primary School
- Wallaroo Primary School
- Warooka Primary School