Total fire ban considered

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is considering a total fire ban on the Nullarbor Plain this week as record high temperatures drive the risk of summer grass fires.

Goldfields/Midlands area officer McCallum Johnston said a Fire Danger Index of more than 100 was forecast for the region on Thursday – only the second time the index has broken the century mark this summer.

“We’re likely to err on the side of caution,” Mr Johnston said.

“A fire would have the potential to take off and run.

“The winds are going to come from the south, so you could have tourists on the beach lighting a bonfire, the fire could come roaring over the hills and up the scarp.

“We had good rains in 2011 and the grass grew out on the Nullarbor Plain.”