Thirteen volunteers comprised three field teams, including an RSPCA unit as usual, and an active Triage centre.
Fifteen tasks were completed during the day, and there were four admissions to the Triage centre.
Karlene Maywald, Head of Recovery, and CFS Region 2 Commander John Hutchins and Ronnie Faggotter from DCSI visited the Triage centre during the day.
Several taskings involved monitoring the condition of known kangaroos in the field by the Veterinary field teams.
Overall admissions to the Triage centre since the start of the SAVEM response are about to enter triple figures.
Update (13th Jan)
Eighteen SAVEM volunteers included staff of the RSPCA and the Adelaide University Production Animal Health Centre's mobile Veterinary team.
The inclement weather contributed to fewer incoming calls and notifications from the public. SAVEM field teams attended both specific sites, and general surveillance of areas previously noted to contain fire affected animals requiring monitoring. This represented a dozen taskings during the day.
Several Koalas and a kangaroo joey were triaged, and were sent to either Adelaide Zoo, or a skilled Fauna Rescue carer, depending on the animal's requirements for care and treatment.
We are looking at ways to better inform the public about sound grounds for euthanasia, which extend beyond visible burn injuries, to less obvious indicators, such as severe exertional myopathy.
Blaze Aid surveilled Kersbrook Oval, but have decided to base elsewhere due to the local community's need to have ongoing access to their community facilities.
SAVEM has been invited to be an ongoing participant in the State Government's Community Recovery Committee for the fire affected area.
Update (12th Jan)
With over a dozen people participating, we were able to run the Triage centre and three field teams.
The field teams were tasked as messages were received from land owners and concerned members of the public.
Compared with previous days, the flow through the Triage centre was more evenly spread, with a total of 26 tasks completed.
The majority of admissions to the SAVEM centre now are kangaroos and koalas, with variations such as Bearded Dragons and deer.
In addition to burns injuries, many kangaroos are now suffering from myopathy due to stress and fleeing from the fire. This is a very painful and slowly debilitating disease, from which the animal slowly dies.
Channel Nine filmed a short News segment in the Triage centre, and CFS Media recorded a short interview with the Coordinator.
Update (11th Jan)
Today saw a large increase in the number of roads open for unescorted access allowing field teams to enter the whole fire zone. Despite most roads being fully cleared, active tree felling by arborists was still ongoing on several roads and access to the fireground itself was not classified as safe since the tree surgeons were not working in the forest and bush areas off the roads.
As a result any wildlife activity seen deeper in the scrub was considered unsafe and to be avoided unless carried out by trained SAVEM staff, unfortunately with the easier access many teams of wildlife rescuers and public were calling in from fireground areas.
With 3 vets available and 1 RSPCA vehicle which was retasked early on we had a slightly reduced capacity, however with the strong support team of vet nurse and wildlife carers to assist we were able to have 3 teams in the field most of the day, and still have a stable and organised ops centre team at the Kersbrook Oval triage centre, who managed to keep the database up to date and organise 28 field visits to areas including Humbug scrub, Lower Hermitage , north Kersbrook and Gumeracha and Inglewood.
Many roo mobs were reported with some showing signs of severe foot burns, others with severe pain levels but no visible burns and probably suffering from exertional myopathy and others with serious leg fractures. Koalas were triaged at the hospital with mild foot burns and joeys were sent to Adelaide Zoo and for Fauna Rescue care until well enough to be released. A dog was brought in for assessment, and several birds triaged at the Kersbrook hospital.
Update (10th Jan)
Saturday was set up with two field teams and a full complement of hospital staffto tackle the number of calls received.
With the progressive return of land owners to more of the fireground area, information is now being received from the northern Humbug Scrub area as well as the southern area which has been more active in previous days.
With 2 teams retrieving, the hospital's outgoing triage patients were immediately replaced by waiting incoming patients.
We are very appreciative of Adelaide Zoo taking a significant number of kangaroo joeys today, and to Fauna Rescue who contributed a team for flagging down koalas. After hospital assessment, these animals have been admitted to hospital, or to carers if appropriate.
Para Hills Vet Clinic has had continued involvement by collecting animals from the Kersbrook, and previously, the One Tree Hill Treatment Centres. With the assistance of RSPCA and other organisations, in-field teams have been able to respond to landowner requests to euthanase distressed and badly injured animals on their land.
SAVEM extends sincere appreciation and thanks for the support and effort generously offered by the Kersbrook community at the Recreation Centre where we are located.
Update (9th Jan)
Today was the first day operating from the Triage and Treatment centre at Kersbrook Oval, set up by Nurse Coordinator, Carol.
The local community is being supported from that centre with donations of food and goods, and SAVEM is receiving catering from there as well.
Today was the first day where individual team vehicles could move across an expanded open road area within the fire ground. Team effectiveness was therefore increased, as individual vehicles could target different parts of the fireground.
Teams delivered animals as diverse as juvenile possums & Koalas to the treatment centre. Some animal owners brought pets to the centre for review and medication.
In-field teams found excellent cooperation from both road block police units, and the workforce clearing the road. Some animals were discharged to the care of Para Hills veterinary clinic, awaiting re-assessment in 24 hrs.
Update (8th Jan)
SAVEM & RSPCA moved to Kersbrook Oval as our control centre. We are extending the control centre as a triage hospital beginning Friday 9th Jan.
A single field team (due to fireground safety restrictions) operated with DEWNR escort. We continue to have the support of clinics who have been able to collect animals requiring hospitalisation, including parrots, koalas, possums and kanga joeys. The chain of animal treatment is triage & initial treatment at Control Centre, transfer to local clinic - or as of 9th Jan, Adelaide Zoo or Koala Hospital for long term care. Care for Animals not requiring veterinary hospitalisation and suitable for discharge to Fauna Rescue carers is being arranged by Fauna Rescue.
Update (7th Jan)
A very busy but successful day on the fireground. An experienced crew of 6 were met at Kersbrook oval by the DEWNR escort.
Throughout the day the team attended koalas, kangaroos, possums, joeys, cats and sheep, and spoke to many members of the public and animal owners.
All agencies were ordered from the fire scar area when a storm front passed over the area. Only 1-2 mls of rain made no difference to the fire activity, but by days' end, 95% of the perimeter was declared contained.
Update (6th Jan)
A major order of Veterinary materials and medications was delivered to the SAVEM Control Centre by Provet SA. The Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network (WICEN) SA has installed a 7 unit hand-held comms array, complete with local tall aluminium tower, into the SAVEM Control Centre as part of WICEN's continuing support for SAVEM.
SAVEM field teams have assessed koalas, kangaroos with and without joeys, horses and sheep. As for previous days, field work included RSPCA & SAVEM participants, and DEWNR escorts. Because of the continuing hot weather, a smaller crew of personnel will be in attendance on Wednesday.
Animal feed (6th Jan)
An emerging issue in the impact of the bushfire is access within the affected areas for the wide variety in animal feed - from hay bales to boxes of dog food. Donations by the public of these materials are being accepted by a wide range of agencies.
Tea Tree Gully Council has agreed to place a part of its Depot site available for animal feed to be delivered for storage. The Depot is accessible between 7am and 4pm, at 118 Tolley Road, St. Agnes. Please report to the Depot front desk.
Audio
Wednesday 15 October 2014 11:20AM Interview with Rachel Westcott by ABC Bush Telegraph on topic "Researchers seek trigger to help farmers prepare better for bushfires: are registered vets one solution?" Rachel starts about half way through clip
Page contains a link to listen on line or download
July 2014 SAVEM has been awarded a Grant from SGIC's Community Grants Program to produce an Interagency Fireground Safety training video. SAVEM is working to provide a training tool for use by SAVEM volunteers to assist with animal welfare management during emergencies. This training tool will enable approximately 250 SAVEM volunteer veterinarians, vet nurses and wildlife carers to benefit from improved knowledge and awareness.
March 2013 Feature article about SAVEM in Provet's magazine Partners in Practice (AU, Autumn 2013 (March 2013, pp 28-29)
Nov 2012 SAVEM was announced a State Winner of the Resilient Australia Awards and received Highly Commended status in the National awards. These awards are sponsored by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, in conjunction with States and Territories.
Far North Zone Emergency Management Committee Port Augusta
DCSI & Volunteering SA/NT
Fireground safety training video
PIRSA - Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Service
Emergency agencies sector reform
May 2014
Vol3 No2 (PDF, 2.6 MB)
February 2014
Vol3 No1 (PDF, 296 kB)
2013
December 2013
Vol2 No5 (PDF, 701 kB)
September 2013
Vol2 No4 (PDF, 653 kB)
July 2013
Vol2 No3 (PDF, 221 kB)
SAVEM takes delivery of its first dedicated Emergency Response vehicle, purchased from Adrian Brien Jeep. Read details in the next Newsletter, out soon.
