Over recent days, the Fleurieu Peninsula has faced one of the most confronting events in its recent history as bushfire moved through the Deep Creek region, threatening homes, landscapes and livelihoods.

Emergency warnings were issued as the fast‑moving fire advanced toward communities near Cape Jervis, with residents urged to leave immediately and prepare for loss of essential services. Since igniting, the fire has burned thousands of hectares across rugged coastal terrain, destroying structures and forcing evacuations while hundreds of firefighters and aerial crews continue containment efforts.

Behind every statistic is a personal story. Local families have lost homes, businesses and irreplaceable memories, while others have seen sheds, tools and equipment destroyed even where houses survived. These moments remind us that bushfire is never only about land. It is about people, community and place.

What Is Happening Now

Fire crews from across South Australia and interstate continue working to strengthen containment lines, extinguish hot spots and protect nearby communities as conditions shift with coastal winds and steep terrain. The Deep Creek fire has burned thousands of hectares, impacted multiple structures and led to the closure of Deep Creek National Park and surrounding conservation areas for public safety while operations continue. For visitors and locals alike, the message from emergency services is clear: this remains an active and unpredictable fireground, and safety must come first.

The Ecological Impact

Fire changes a landscape in ways that are both immediate and long‑term. Intense fires can remove vegetation structure, destroy hollow‑bearing trees used for nesting and shelter, and alter habitat for birds, mammals and reptiles that depend on mature ecosystems. In the short term, biodiversity often declines, with fewer specialist species present until vegetation complexity slowly returns through natural regeneration. Yet fire is also part of Australia’s ecological story. Recovery can begin within days, with regeneration emerging naturally across burned ground and ecosystems gradually rebuilding over time. Deep Creek now enters this fragile but hopeful phase.

The Impact on Small Coastal Communities

For regional towns along the Fleurieu coast, the consequences extend beyond the fireground itself. Tourism pauses. Local income slows. Families and small businesses face uncertainty at the very moment recovery demands strength. This moment is not only an environmental event. It is a community turning point.

Our Response at Deep Creek Experiences

Deep Creek Experiences launched only a year ago with a simple purpose: to connect people with nature, native food and the extraordinary beauty of this coastline. In that short time, our region has faced algal bloom, reduced visitation and now bushfire closure. Like many small tourism operators, we have had to adapt quickly while holding onto optimism for the future.

Rather than step away, we have chosen to stay present. We have created recovery‑focused coastal experiences that keep visitors safely connected to the Fleurieu Peninsula, share honest stories of landscape, ecology and regeneration, continue supporting local livelihoods during closure, and encourage respectful, sustainable tourism through recovery. Because recovery is not only about rebuilding land. It is about keeping community alive while healing begins.

Looking Forward

Deep Creek National Park will reopen in time. Vegetation will return. Wildlife will move back through the valleys and along the cliffs. And when that moment comes, the experience of standing in Deep Creek will carry deeper meaning for everyone who knows what this landscape has endured.

Until then, the story of Deep Creek is one of resilience: resilience of land, resilience of people, resilience of small regional businesses choosing hope over retreat. We are proud to be part of that story. And we look forward to welcoming you back to Deep Creek when the time is right.