A FORMER Balranald and Robinvale resident and firefighter caught up on bushfire-ravaged Kangaroo Island has described the situation as "horrific".

Cheryle Chalmers moved to Kangaroo Island four years ago, and now lives in an area on the island called Kingscote.

Ms Chalmers said she believed the fires raging across the island were just 15 kilometres away from her area.

"At that stage, it had a 2...