Deep Creek Fire
Updates: Wednesday 4 February
Updates: Tuesday 3 February
- Incident Update (9:30pm)
- Fireground activity and map
- Thank you for the donations
- Cape Jervis community information spot
- Incident Update (11:30am)
Road Closures
Update at 3.00pm, 4 February
Main South Road has now reopened to all motorists however, speed restrictions may apply. If travelling in the area please drive to conditions and follow directions from emergency services. Talisker Road, Rarkang Road, Three Bridges Road, Blowhole Beach Road, Tent Rock Road and Range Road West and Tapanappa Road remain closed. Community are reminded to stay out of the current warning area where possible.
Anyone within the impacted area will be allowed to leave via the closed roads but will not be able to return until they are reopened. Given the unpredictable nature of this fire any road closures could change at short notice. CFS still urges anyone to continue avoiding the areas surrounding this fire where possible.
Incident Update
Update at 11.45am, 4 February
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) has commenced day 4 of responding to a dynamic and unpredictable fire in Deep Creek National Park in the Fleurieu Peninsula .
This fire continues to be erratic with influence from the terrain and coastal winds causing the fire to change directions and spread into surrounding hard to access terrain. The blaze has now burnt 3,000 hectares and continues to head towards the coast through Deep Creek National Park and towards Silverton.
Fire continues to be stopped 1km from Cape Jervis with firefighters continuing to monitor the perimeter and put out any hotspots.
Predicted elevated fire conditions this afternoon and into tomorrow 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 more than 260 firefighters on 50 trucks and 9 support vehicles working to limit the spread of this fire where possible and protect threatened structures with crews from CFS, SA Metropolitan Fire Service, Department for Environment and Water and Forestry SA supported by Farm Fire Units on the fireground. Much of the fireground is currently inaccessible creating access challenges for ground crews. 7 Aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft, are supporting with the fire in this terrain.
At this time we understand that at least one structure has been lost, with the possibility of additional structures being impacted. Our crews will conduct assessments of any further losses when conditions allow.
Main South Road is now open to all residents looking to return to their homes in Cape Jervis and Kangaroo Island. Anyone within the impacted localities including Delamere, Silverton and Deep Creek can only return to their properties to actively defend their homes.
Deep Creek National Park and Talisker Conservation Park are fully closed. The public may notice a lot of smoke extending across the broader area over the coming days. If you see an unattended fire, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
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.
Incident Update
Update at 9.30 pm, 3 February
The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) is continuing to respond to a dynamic and unpredictable fire in Deep Creek National Park in the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia. Due to strong winds being experienced on the fireground and the steep terrain, this fire has taken a run towards Delamere and Jones Forest. This fire still remains uncontrolled and has now burnt more than 2,500 hectares and continues to burn on multiple fronts in inaccessible and hard to access terrain.
Predicted wind changes overnight and into tomorrow continue to increase the unpredictability of this fire and anyone within the area should stay informed and enact their bushfire plan as needed. There is a warning message issued for this fire. Please stay informed through the CFS website (cfs.sa.gov.au) or Alert SA app.
Firefighters continue to actively work to suppress the fire and protect threatened structures overnight with crews from CFS, SA Metropolitan Fire Service, Department for Environment and Water supported by Farm Fire Units on the fireground. Aircraft, including firebombers and observational aircraft, who completed more than 420 drops over the fire and worked on containment lines with retardant.
At this time we understand that at least one structure has been lost, with the possibility of additional structures being impacted. Our crews will conduct assessments of any further losses when conditions allow. 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 the area including Kangaroo Island and the Yorke Peninsula tonight and into Wednesday. If you see an unattended fire, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
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.
Fireground & 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 11:30am, 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.
