The federal government has deployed National Emergency Management Stockpile assets to support the South Australian bushfire effort.

This includes a large emergency shelter camp capable of accommodating 256 emergency management personnel close to the Deep Creek bushfires.

The Humanihut camp is made up of a series of modular huts that can be rapidly deployed to disaster and emergency sites and can house either emergency response personnel or displaced community members.

Across 32 (including four that are accessible) huts and six ablutions blocks, each camp has off-grid capability with its own power, potable water and waste-water storage. Each hut has its own climate control system, lighting and power and can sleep up to eight people.

By Friday night, less than 10 hours after a convoy carrying the camp left their depot, 128 emergency personnel moved into the base camp. The Humanihut camp will initially be deployed for seven days but may be extended based on operational need.

The Humanihut deployment is part of a range of federal support for the current South Australian fires, including the use of the Australian Defence Force’s Keswick Barracks to house emergency personnel, and the deployment of specialist firefighting aircraft.

The National Emergency Management Stockpile allows state and territory governments to access additional equipment and services during a crisis.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain says the federal government is making all options available to support the firefighting effort.

“This Humanihut camp allows firefighters and other emergency management personnel to stay close to the fire ground, as well as enabling them to spend the end of a long shift somewhere that’s airconditioned, has flushing toilets and showers and is much better protected from the elements than a tent.

“That can provide a significant boost to fatigue management and improve the time it takes to respond to these fires.”

The latest CFS incident update says firefighters are continuing to patrol the fireground, extinguishing hotspots throughout the rugged and undulating terrain of the Deep Creek Fire.

South Australian firefighters and local Farm Fire Units continue to be supported by interstate crews on the fireground and within our Incident Management Team. Despite the fire being declared contained on Sunday, 8 February, considerable work remains for firefighters to ensure all active fire is put out.

Smoke will continue to be seen in the area. While the spread of the fire has stopped, it may still be burning freely within the perimeter of the fire. If the public see any unattended fire they are asked to call Triple Zero (000).

The fire has burned approximately 4,400 hectares and has a perimeter of 56 kilometres.

SA Police rapid assessment teams have conducted further damage assessments across the Deep Creek Fire, which have identified one unoccupied residential dwelling as part of the impacted structures. It has been confirmed 22 structures have been damaged or destroyed and 12 vehicles have been destroyed.

Bushfire investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of this fire, however, the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

An increased number of emergency service vehicles are still operating in the area, and as such, the CFS requests any unnecessary travel into and around this area to continue to be avoided.

Hazardous tree assessments are still in the process of being finalised. While several roads were recently opened, others still require assessment and work from arborists to be deemed safe to open. Please refer to traffic.sa.gov.au for the most current information.