Deep Creek After-Action Review

The Deep Creek Fire was one of South Australia's most significant bushfire events in recent years. Over many days, CFS volunteers, staff and partner agencies, supported by a response from across the country, worked in challenging and dynamic conditions to protect lives, property, critical infrastructure and the environment.

The review recognises the professionalism, commitment and cooperation demonstrated throughout the response and confirms a strong operational outcome. Importantly, the efforts of firefighters and incident management personnel prevented what could have been a far more damaging event for local communities and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Through determined firefighting operations, effective use of aviation and heavy plant, strong multi-agency cooperation and proactive community engagement, the fire was contained without loss of life.

The review also identifies opportunities to strengthen our systems and capability in areas such as incident management, logistics, intelligence, communications, operational technology and workforce development. These findings are consistent with lessons identified through other recent major incidents and provide valuable insights to help us focus our continuous improvement efforts.

CFS has used the findings from the Wilmington Fire, Lower South East Complex Fire and Deep Creek Fire After Action Reviews to develop a single, consolidated improvement program. Across the three reviews, CFS has accepted all 15 consolidated recommendations. Nine recommendations will be progressed through existing programs of work and organisational reforms, while six recommendations have been accepted in principle and are dependent on additional resources or investment to fully achieve their intent. No recommendations have been rejected.

The LSE Complex AAR, which the NSW RFS initially assisted with, has now been finalised and uploaded to the CFS website. Similar to the Deep Creek Incident, the review found that strong firefighting capability minimised losses from more than 130 confirmed fire starts resulting from the 2025 lightning event. Recommendations from this incident have also been incorporated into the consolidated recommendations. CFS thanks our members from Region 5 for their patience in bringing this report to fruition.

Many of the identified improvements are already underway through EM Merge, the New Operational System program and other capability development initiatives. The reviews confirm that these programs are addressing many of the organisational and operational themes identified across recent Level 3 incidents and provide confidence that the agency is moving in the right direction.

CFS has also been proactive in pursuing opportunities to secure additional capability funding, including grant applications and investment proposals aimed at strengthening incident management capability, workforce development, communications, logistics, operational technology and lessons management. We will continue to work closely with Government and emergency management partners to progress these longer-term improvements.

To everyone who responded to the Deep Creek Fire and to those who contributed to the review process, thank you. The extraordinary commitment, professionalism and dedication shown by our volunteers, staff and partner agencies made a genuine difference. The Deep Creek Fire demonstrated the very best of our organisation and the broader emergency services sector.

CFS has used the findings from the Wilmington Fire, Lower South East Complex Fire and Deep Creek Fire After-Action Reviews to develop this single, consolidated improvement program. Across the three reviews, CFS has accepted all 15 consolidated recommendations below.