Operational reviews

Lessons from the Island:

An independent review of the fires that burnt across Kangaroo Island during December 2019 - February 2020

The CFS commissioned an independent review of the 2019-2020 Kangaroo Island fires to help with ongoing operational improvement.

The resulting C3 Resilience Report details the experience of many involved in the Kangaroo Island fires and will be used in conjunction with other reviews held during the 2019-2020 to formulate a list of recommendations that will be actioned – some of which have been completed.

The CFS overcame its most testing bushfire season during 2019-2020 with distinction and wide recognition as having achieved tremendous outcomes for South Australians.

The men and women of the CFS acted in the best interest of the community despite extremely limited resources and facing circumstances which had never previously been anticipated. Many of these men and women did so at their own risk to their welfare and safety. The report notes many positives and clearly defines the need for better resourcing for the CFS.

Operational reviews after large fires are normal within an agency such as the CFS, despite not always being released publicly. As a fire service, our operations are never flawless, there are always opportunities to learn and improve so that we can continue to protect life, property and the environment.