SA Country Fire Service

Congratulations to Michael Wouters, who has been awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal 🌟🎉

Mike was nominated as part of the King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List by the SA Country Fire Service in conjunction with National Parks and Wildlife Service.

While working as a seasonal fire crew member and research assistant in Victoria during his university studies, Mike developed a passion for fire management, behaviour, and science.

This passion brought him to South Australia where he led the Fire Science, Predictive Services and Incident Mapping functions within the Department for Environment and Water and was instrumental in establishing the state’s fire behaviour analysis and incident mapping capability.

Read more about his incredible research and impact here: https://ow.ly/FIss50Z7SIh

Transformer fire at Port Paterson - 2 June 2026: Around 9:45 pm yesterday, CFS firefighters responded to a transformer fire within a substation at Port Paterson, approximately 8 km south-east of Port Augusta in South Australia.

Two trucks carrying 8 firefighters attended, supported by SA Police and onsite management.

Wearing breathing apparatus, crews worked at a safe distance to defensively extinguish the fire using specialist foam, successfully preventing it from spreading to any closely surrounding critical power infrastructure.

Firefighters used thermal imaging cameras and atmospheric monitoring equipment to ensure the safety of crews and total extinguishment of the fire.

The transformer was a total loss, with minor damage sustained to the nearby switch room, with damages estimated at $200,000. The cause is believed to be due to an electrical fault.

http://dlvr.it/TSr73f