Western Australians have been warned to make a bushfire plan to protect their homes and properties.
The summer campaign directs people to the My Bushfire Plan app and website, which are simple tools our community can use to create their plan.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is expecting an earlier start to bushfire season this year, which will be challenging and unpredictable with extreme heat and windy conditions.
Between 1 December 2021 and 28 February 2022, 1,751 bushfires were reported across the State, burning more than 1.2 million hectares of land. A record 3,528 bushfire warnings were issued in the past financial year.
Despite these figures, just 16 per cent of Western Australians recognise they are at risk of bushfire by completing a bushfire plan.
The McGowan Government through DFES is ensuring WA is well prepared for bushfire season, recruiting and training an additional 60 firefighters and supplying 42 new appliances to career and volunteer fire stations across the State since January.
It comes as a new state-of-the-art fire station in Cardup has been announced as part of a plan to future-proof demand for emergency services in our growing south-east region.
Visit https://mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au/ to create a bushfire plan.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“We know the devastation that bushfires cause, and this summer campaign serves as an important reminder to our community about the need to be prepared for bushfire season.
“I urge all Western Australians to set time aside now to create a bushfire plan – it won’t take you long and could save precious minutes when it counts.”
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Over the past year, our emergency services have faced incredible challenges, working night and day to protect local communities across the length and breadth of Western Australia.
“The McGowan Government recognises the significant threat bushfires pose, investing $5 million for 540 mitigation activities to be undertaken ahead of the 2022-23 high-threat period.
“We are investing millions of dollars in providing our firefighters with the latest resources and facilities and spending $11 million to ensure that for the first time a Large Air Tanker is based permanently in WA during bushfire season.
“We know the single biggest killer when it comes to bushfires is indecision, so we urge people to make their own bushfire plan, or update it, to keep their family and property safe.”
As stated by Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
“Bushfires are burning for longer and more intensely than we’ve seen in previous decades.
“Everyone in WA needs to have a bushfire plan because around 90 per cent of the State is bushfire-prone.
“Having a plan helps you answer three critical questions when threatened by a bushfire: when will you leave, where will you go and how will you get there?
“If you already have a plan you need to review it before the start of each bushfire season.
“Having an up-to-date plan could save your life. Search ‘My Bushfire Plan’ to create or update your plan today.”
