Western Australia is mobilising its entire aerial firefighting arsenal, with a fleet of 38 water bombers placed on standby from Monday, in a major pre-emptive strike against a predicted long, dry, and difficult bushfire season.
Aerial Fleet on High Alert
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has confirmed the deployment of its specialist aircraft into the state's most vulnerable communities. The final preparations conclude with the arrival of two Black Hawk helicopters and a massive C130 Hercules large air tanker, completing the 38-strong fleet.
DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm announced the strategic placement of resources on Friday, stating, "Given the recent seasonal outlook... we've put additional appliances up into the Mid West, and some 15 up into there, 12 down in the South West, and additional nine into Esperance."
He highlighted the particular challenge of the hilly terrain stretching over 300 kilometres from the north to the South West, a key driver behind the state's investment in aerial firefighting capabilities.
Elevated Fire Risk and Community Preparedness
The urgent preparations follow the release of the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook, which warns of an increased fire risk for several regions including Yalgoo, Geraldton Sandplains, the Swan Coastal Plain, Jarrah Forest, Esperance Plains, and Mallee.
This elevated risk is due to a dangerous combination of heavy spring rains that spurred significant grass and shrub growth, coupled with forecasts for warmer-than-average temperatures and a low chance of summer rainfall.
Commissioner Klemm emphasised the dynamic nature of the threat, noting his team conducts daily, and sometimes twice-daily, reassessments of risks based on weather and soil dryness indicators.
New App Feature for Emergency Planning
Ahead of a forecast temperature spike, with Perth expecting a top of 38C from Monday, DFES has launched a crucial update to the Emergency WA app.
The new feature allows users to create a single, comprehensive emergency plan for bushfires, cyclones, floods, and storms. This plan is then stored directly within the app, ensuring it is accessible at a moment's notice.
"Should an emergency occur in one of your watch zones that you've identified, that means immediately you'll get the notification of your plan onto your phone through the app," Mr Klemm explained.
He urged all residents to take the time to develop a family plan, pointing to a recent significant bushfire in Aubin Grove as a timely reminder of the very real and imminent danger. The updated Emergency WA app is available for download now.
