NEWS UPDATE: Bushfires burning out-of-control in SA and Vic.

Both South Australia and Victoria are facing dire weather conditions today that are fuelling damaging and potentially deadly fires.

Here is the current situation in each State:

South Australia

UPDATE: There are fears that dozens of homes have been lost in the Adelaide Hills District as a bushfire continues to rage out of control. There are reports that so far up to 10,000 hectares of land has been ravaged by fire.

The fire has been declared a major emergency giving authorities the power to forcibly evacuate people or stop them from entering the region.

Some have chosen to stay and defend their homes, however the overwhelming response has been to flee the area, with many evacuating to safer ground.

Reports indicate that fires have reached Cudlee Creek and Kersbrook Primary Schools.

Assistant chief officer Rob Sandford confirmed that seven firefighters have been injured after an appliance was caught in a fire.

“The full detail of those injuries we’re not aware of but they are being treated and supported by SA Ambulance,” he said.

“[Firefighters] are doing their absolute best in what are the worst of conditions imaginable for firefighting.

“We’re thinking likely dozens of houses lost.”

Previously Mamamia wrote…

Authorities say that the fire has now reached the township of Cudlee Creek and that the township of Gumeracha is experiencing an ember attack from the Sampson Flat fire which continues to burn. A wind change is now being experienced across agricultural parts of South Australia.

The BoM has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the state. Conditions are expected to cool by Monday.

Firefighters continue to battle the out-of-control blaze at Sampson Flat in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges of north-east of Adelaide, amid warnings that conditions today in the Adelaide Hills are the worst faced by the region since the Ash Wednesday fires more than 30 years ago.

CFS Chief Greg Nettleton has confirmed that the fire is currently travelling with a northerly wind but that a change was expected at lunchtime.

“It will see the wind change from the north to the west,” he said.

“This will mean the fire, which is currently travelling from north to south, will change direction and the fire will then travel from west to east.”

Due to the erratic nature of the fire it is currently burning freely in all directions Golden Grove, Upper Hermitage, Break Neck Hill, Kersbrook Township, One Tree Hill Township, Little Para Reservoir, Chain of Ponds and the townships of Inglewood, Houghton, Cudlee Creek and Lower Hermitage, according to the CFS.

Livestock losses have been confirmed, along with five properties and more losses are expected during the day.

The blaze grew from 150 hectares in size yesterday afternoon to more than 4,700 hectares this morning, with a perimeter of 38km.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has impressed upon people the need to make a decision to leave or stay early on because of the extreme conditions.

“We are dealing with an incredibly dangerous fire. Your life is at risk and we are asking you to implement your bushfire survival plans,” he said.

“[These] plans… require you to make a decision to leave or stay. If you’ve decided to leave, you should leave immediately… it could be a catastrophic decision to leave late.

“Rely upon that trusted source of information.

“It is absolutely crucial in all of this that members of the community place their own safety and the safety of their families above all else.”

The Country Fire Service continues to provide updates via Twitter:

ABC News also reports that people have been seen leaving emergency warning areas around South Australia in cars laden with animals and furniture.

“You can replace property and you can replace goods, but you can’t replace lives,” Federal Member for Mayo, Jamie Briggs, told ABC News 24.

For more information on the SA fires visit www.cfs.sa.gov.au or call 1300 362 361

Victoria.

UPDATE: A cool change with strong winds and lightning is being reported in the area where the Moyton grass fire has been burning out of control.

ABC News is reporting that new fires are breaking out in the states west ahead of a band of rain expected to hit the region from Melbourne tonight.

There is a fast moving out-of-control bushfire travelling in a southerly direction from Reid Parade towards Wooleys Road, Crib Point that is threatening properties to the south of Woolleys Road including the Equestrian Centre.

Many residents have started to evacuate their homes as emergency services warn they may not be able to help those who choose to stay behind.

Previously Mamamia wrote….

Temperatures continue to soar above 40 degrees Celsius in Victoria today as firefighters continue to battle a grass fire near Moyston that threatens homes and communities in the state’s west.

The fire, which has so far destroyed one home, has been downgraded to a watch-and-act alert for residents of nearby town Maroona this morning.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that 327 fires have been dealt with across Victoria from midnight Friday until 6am today.

“All but one of those has been able to be dealt with successfully,” he said.

“The Moyston fire continues to be a significant issue.

“I simply wanted to say thanks so very much to all of our firefighters, both career staff as well as so many hundreds of volunteers, and the many other emergency services who have so admirably supported them in what was a very difficult fire and still is, particularly with unsettled weather conditions over the next

“There is one house gone, a number of sheds, and obviously we feel for people who’ve lost their home. But it could have been so much worse.”

ABC News reports that about 100 firefighters have been working to control the Moyston blaze with the assistance of air-bombing watercraft.

In a press conference this morning, a CFS spokesman stressed that the hot conditions have led to a number of people with heat related illnesses and has reminded citizens to stay vigilant, keep cool indoors and drink lots of water.

He also confirmed that there were at least three calls about eight kids left in cars yesterday and that parents should not do this under any circumstances.

“Make no mistake, there’s no excuses,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said of these incidents.

For more information on the Victorian fires, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au or call 1800 240 667.