AS bushfires continue to burn out of control on Kangaroo Island and across Australia, resources from the nearby Edinburgh Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are being deployed to help the  firefighting effort.

Military personnel, air force planes and defence force equipment have all been deployed from the Edinburgh base since Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced 3000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) reservists would be deployed across fire affected areas to support emergency services on January 4.

Joint Task Force 1111 was assembled by the defence force in response to the fire emergency, bringing together resources from South Australian defence force bases such as Edinburgh and Keswick.

The base’s iconic P-8A Poseidon aircraft have played a large role in the recovery across the country, with the planes conducting regular flights over affected areas to scout for fire breakouts and  trapped people.

Other aircraft, such as the C-17 cargo plane, have taken off from the base to deliver cargo to Kangaroo Island and take residents away from the fire zone.

Edinburgh has also been a valuable refuel point for the state’s fire-fighting water bombers, with several planes refuelling at the base during fires at Angle Vale and Cudlee Creek in December.

In all, 121 ADF engineers, logistics specialists and personnel are currently on Kangaroo Island providing support to the area.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said safety of life, evacuations support and assistance for isolated communities were the main focus of the defence force.

“It is to move in and to move forward, particularly in areas that have been devastated by fire to support the immediate response needs there and the recovery that will also follow,” he said.