Deep Creek Fire
Fireground activity and map
Updated at 6.00pm, 3 February
As the wind has picked up this afternoon we have continued to see an increase in fire activity towards the eastern side of the fire. The fire has now burnt 2,200 hectares with crews focusing on halting the blaze spreading along Main South Road. Crews have put in a great effort to hold up the fire allowing Main South Road to reopen for that local community including Kangaroo Island residents. However, this remains a dynamic situation and the road may close again at anytime.
As with many scrub fires, we are seeing embers - burning leaves and twigs carried by the wind - creating new fires within the fireground. These fires will generally burn out by meeting already burnt areas, however as we experienced yesterday, these embers can create spot fires and continue the spread.
Firefighters, heavy machinery and aircraft are actively responding to this fire, however this fire is continuing to burn in difficult to access terrain. Anyone who has remains in the area is urged to monitor your situation and enact your bushfire plan as needed.
The total fire ban issued for tomorrow is mainly wind driven. This will continue the unpredictability of this fire and may see increased smoke push over Cape Jarvis and Kangaroo Island.
The public are reminded this is an active fireground where the situation is constantly changing. Anyone is the area is reminded to stay away where possible and follow directions from emergency service personnel. This includes the use of drones which pose a serious risk to firefighting aircraft and must be kept well away from firegrounds.
We thank the community for their ongoing support.
Thank you for the donations
The outpouring of support from Yankalilla and surrounding communities has been outstanding. We are so thankful to our community for their ongoing support to our firefighters and emergency service personnel, who are working in tough conditions responding to the Deep Creek fire.
The Salvation Army is now set up at the Yankalilla staging site providing food and refreshments to our crews. We thank them for their ongoing support.
We really appreciate the support with donations from the general public however, at this stage firefighters do not require additional food.
If you'd like to donate, consider the CFS Foundation, which helps volunteers and their families in need - https://cfsfoundation.org.au/
Authorities are currently assessing the needs of those who may be affected, and will make an appeal for donated goods, should they be required.
Cape Jervis community information spot
Updated at 12:00pm, 3 February
CFS Community Liaison Officers will be available to provide information to the community from 1.00 pm in front of the local tavern, corner of Ransford Street and Flinders Drive, in Cape Jervis.
Incident update
Updated at 11:30pm, 3 February
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) is continuing to respond to the fire between Deep Creek National Park and Cape Jervis in the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia.
Thanks to the hard work of firefighters overnight, the fire was halted approximately 1km from the township of Cape Jervis. Crews implemented a number of techniques including direct asset protection and creating control lines with heavy machinery and burning to the south of Blowhole Road.
This fire still remains uncontrolled and has now burnt more than 1,600 hectares and continues to burn on multiple fronts in steep inaccessible terrain. Predicted wind changes today continue to increase the unpredictability of this fire and anyone within the area should stay informed and enact their bushfire plan as needed.
There continues to be a warning message issued for this fire. Please stay informed through the CFS website (cfs.sa.gov.au) or Alert SA app.
CFS Community Liaison Officers will be available to provide information to the community from 1.00 pm in front of the local tavern, corner of Ransford Street and Flinders Drive, in Cape Jervis.
There are currently more than 260 firefighters on 40 trucks and 15 support vehicles working to contain this fire and undertaking active asset protections with crews from CFS, Farm Fire Units, SA Metropolitan Fire Service, Department for Environment and Water and Forestry SA on the fireground. Today's priorities are implementing control lines with support from heavy machinery and back burning. Crews are supported by 11 aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft, who are working on active suppression and control lines using retardant.
We thank the local community and our partner agencies including SA Ambulance Service, St John Ambulance, the Salvation Army, private contractors and the Yankalilla Council for their ongoing support.
The fire is currently burning along Main South Road and it is closed between Cole Road, Delamere to Cape Jervis. Smoke from this fire may also be impacting surrounding areas and emergency services will continue working on and around roads. Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Deep Creek National Park is now completely closed, and Talisker Conservation Park remains fully closed.
The public may notice a lot of smoke extending across to Kangaroo Island and the Yorke Peninsula. As a precaution residents who suffer from respiratory or cardiac conditions may wish to consider closing all doors and windows and remaining indoors.
A CFS staging area is operating at the Yankalilla Showgrounds, and Yankalilla Oval is being used for aviation operations. The public is asked to stay clear of these areas.
People are also reminded this is an active fireground where the situations is constantly changing. Anyone is the area is reminded to stay away where possible and follow directions from emergency service personnel. This includes the use of drones which pose a serious risk to firefighting aircraft and must be kept well away from firegrounds.
