Fire Updates
Deep Creek fire, Day 23
SAVEM is activated up to and including Sunday March 1, but today may be SAVEM's last day on the Deep Creek fireground, due to heavy rain and storms forecast for the weekend. This will cause animals to seek shelter in largely inaccessible places. Trees may become more...
Deep Creek fire, Day 20
As we begin Week 4 of the SAVEM Deep Creek fire response, we are finding fewer injured animals, but those we do find have the worst injuries. These are animals who have gone into hiding since they were hurt very early in the fire timeline, now coming out seeking water...
Deep Creek fire, Day 18
It's now three weeks since the Deep Creek fire began, two and a half weeks since SAVEM was activated and 15 days SAVEM has spent on fireground. We continue to find injured animals in what have been identified as the hottest and most savage parts of the fireground. We...
Deep Creek fire, Day 13
SAVEM operations at the Deep Creek fireground are ongoing. Staging has shut down & most other emergency services have dispersed. At this point in the response - as expected - we are seeing animals with the most serious injuries beginning to emerge, seeking food...
Deep Creek fire, Day 10
A longer post today, please read. SAVEM at the Deep Creek bushfire, 15 February, 2026 In common with all other wildlife-centric SAVEM responses, SAVEM work ramps up just as everyone else leaves. The Deep Creek fireground is no exception. Staging shuts down, the...
Deep Creek fire, Day 9
Today the whole fireground is open to SAVEM including the Deep Creek National Park. SAVEM access to the Park is facilitated by the Rangers (thankyou) as gates have had to be locked to manage people "coming for a look". While the public roads are open, the fireground...
Deep Creek fire, Day 8
Today on the Deep Creek fireground we are noticing animals beginning to emerge from places of refuge. This commonly occurs from Day 7 of a fire, and is a pattern documented by SAVEM over 17 years of our operations. Staging has been dismantled which means the SAVEM...
Deep Creek fire, Day 7
SAVEM’s operational response at the Deep Creek fireground continues. The response now has a battle rhythm established with teams deploying daily. The fire is contained, but some areas remain unsafe. We thank all volunteers who have contributed to the response to date...
Deep Creek fire Day 6
Today three SAVEM teams patrolled through the central portion of the fireground, focusing on animal welfare, and the wellbeing of residents. Several small mobs of kangaroos were assessed, along with a Shingleback lizard, being cared for very competently by the...
Deep Creek fire Day 5
Thanks to the wonderful efforts of the SA Country Fire Service, and interstate firefighters, the Deep Creek fire has been declared contained. Today SAVEM patrolled a large section of the western side of the Deep Creek fireground. About 100 kangaroos were assessed by...
Deep Creek fire Day 4
Today SAVEM has moved our focus from the perimeter of the fire to the fireground proper, as authorised by the SA CFS. Two SAVEM teams accompanied by a QRV toured parts of the fireground for which we have been cleared to enter. Several mobs of kangaroos were assessed,...
Deep Creek fire, Day 3
SAVEM's day three at the Deep Creek fire, and SAVEM's field hospital is now on location. This will serve as a base for SAVEM personnel and a triage facility for animals coming off fireground in need of veterinary assessment and care. It's early days in the SAVEM...