FOR a two hours Coomunga farmer Cameron Dreckow was trapped behind a wall of flames, knowing the fire was burning toward his home.

"I was more anxious not knowing what was going on . . . I knew which way the fire was heading, and I was unable to get there," he told AdelaideNow.

"I was lucky enough that a few mates got there, and it didn't get to the house.

"The CFS trucks were all there, so between the lot of them that was all saved and they saved a fair portion of my wheat crop as well."

Firefighters battled a flare-up within control lines about 1.30pm yesterday when the fire front reached unburnt tall timber.

But crews were able to bring the blaze under control in cropping and pasture land by about 4pm.

Late yesterday, it was moving slowly north, within control lines.

Mr Dreckow, 43, had only three hours' sleep on Tuesday night and expected little rest again last night as the fire approached his neighbour's barley crop.

"We're sitting just outside a patch of scrub on the government rifle range, listening to live ammunition going off as the fire's coming through," he said.

Port Lincoln Country Fire Service firefighter Kylie Kleinig spent more than eight hours on the fire ground on Tuesday night.

"I believe it was a success," she said.

"It was the first time I have worked with the bulk water carrier so I had to learn some new skills. It gives you goosebumps when you realise what you have done."

For Len and Margo Bauer, the prospect of losing their nearly complete Endeavour Heights home was a reality as the fire closed within 3km.

Mr Bauer said he was well prepared, with fire hoses and pumps and a sprinkler system temporarily hooked up to the house, to stay and defend his property.

"If that wind had stayed west for another hour that would have brought it straight over here and the outskirts of Port Lincoln," he said.

Country Fire Service Eyre Peninsula and West Coast region commander Kevin May said hotspots would need to be monitored until April and May as inaccessible patches continued to burn. He said the CFS was planning for hot conditions this weekend with temperatures forecast in the 30s.

"It's not a good start (to the season)," he said.

"I think the unfortunate thing is it always seems to pick on Port Lincoln, which brings back those memories from the past and that's a real challenge for us.

"Those who have done the right thing have been able to turn around and walk away from these (bushfires) feeling confident and knowing the effort they have put in has been worthwhile.

The CFS expects conditions to improve today and tomorrow, before temperatures reach the low to mid 30s at the weekend.

Read more at AdelaideNow.