One dead, one unaccounted for in South Australia amid 'catastrophic' fire conditions
One person is dead and another unaccounted for as up to 70 blazes burn across South Australia amid catastrophic weather conditions.
Premier Steven Marshall has confirmed that one person has been killed in a crash in Lameroo in the Murraylands, where an emergency bushfire is burning.
The exact circumstances of the crash are not yet known.
Another person is unaccounted for in the Cudlee Creek blaze, which is currently burning out of control in a south-easterly direction towards Balhannah, Woodside, Lenswood, Lobethal, Inverbrackie, Harrogate, Nairne, Brukunga and Mt Torrens.
Ten firefighters have been injured, with three currently being treated in hospitals for burns and smoke inhalation.
A number of properties are believed to have been lost or damaged in serious bushfires raging in the Adelaide Hills and on Yorke Peninsula.
CFS chief Mark Jones said the Adelaide Hills fire was unlikely to be contained soon with crews battling thick smoke.
A home left in ruins by the emergency fire at Angle Vale, in the city's north. 9NEWS
It was burning towards the towns of Charleston, Woodside and Inverbrackie as it continued to head southeast.
Mr Jones said the terrain and the prevailing conditions were proving particularly challenging for fire crews.
"Access is difficult and dangerous for firefighters, the lack of visibility also makes it very difficult for crews," he said.
Spot fires ahead of the main front were also thought to have damaged some properties around the town of Lobethal.
At least six firefighters have suffered burns and smoke inhalation while fighting the blaze.
Water bombing helicopters are pummelling the Cudlee Creek fire with water, as they struggle to contain the emergency blaze. 9NEWS
An 'emergency' level fire is threatening homes at Cudlee Creek in the Adelaide Hills. 9NEWS
The Country Fire Service says 36 fire trucks and eight aircraft are battling the fire which started at Cudlee Creek. 9NEWS
Many locals residents had opted to leave but some were remaining to defend their homes.
The CFS had 74 fire trucks and 11 aircraft tackling the Adelaide Hills fire with 18 trucks mopping up at Angle Vale.
On Yorke Peninsula, 36 crews and six aircraft were in action battling the blaze in stubble as it headed uncontrolled towards Maitland.
More than 500 firefighters were in the field across the three incidents with extra aerial resources brought in from NSW and Victoria.
Catastrophic fire conditions have fanned the flames of the fast-moving fires. 9NEWS
The fires came on SA's worst day for fire conditions so far this summer with catastrophic risk declared in six districts.
The state was being hit by a combination of extremely high temperatures and rising winds with the potential for thousands of lightning strikes in the afternoon.
A gusty wind shift during the day would cause added dramas with the CFS warning that if fires start, they would be almost impossible to contain.
Temperatures in some parts of the state were expected to get close to 50C with Adelaide forecast to have a top of 46C which would make it the city's hottest-ever December day.
Rising winds on the Yorke Peninsula also whipped up dust with police warning that visibility was low.
With AAP.
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