Are you ready for bushfire season?

Published: Wednesday, 2 October 2019 at 2:30:00 PM

With the weather becoming warmer and drier, it is important to begin preparations for the looming bush fire season. The Shire of Coolgardie hopes to support community members in their preparations by providing helpful, timely and up-to-date bush fire information.

The Bush Fire Information page is a helpful resource for those looking for more information on burning restrictions, fact sheets and fire break requirements.

There are a number of other steps you can take to prepare yourself for the bush fire season, including familiarising yourself with the below information.

Fire Danger Rating

You may have noticed a new addition to our website. The Fire Danger Rating sits in the footer of the Shire of Coolgardie website and reports on local fire conditions. At each rating, the fire behaviour and potential impact on you will be different. Be sure to monitor this rating system daily to keep informed about the local bushfire danger.

Useful Links and Contact Information Department of Fire & Emergency Services (DFES) DFES - Facebook  DFES - Twitter Emergency WA Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Bush Fires Act (1954) In the event of an emergency where Fire & Rescue are needed, please contact 000 immediately Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What should I do with my pets and livestock during an emergency?

Part of your bushfire preparations should include preparing for any pets or animals you have on your property. As an owner of animals you have a duty of care to provide appropriate food, water, shelter and treatment for injury or disease for your animals.

Having a duty of care for an animal means you are legally obliged to care for it by providing for its needs in a reasonable way, so it is important to have a plan in place if a bushfire were to occur.

I can see and smell smoke, but here is no bushfire alert. What do I do?

DFES responds to more than 6,500 bushfires each year and only issues alerts and warnings when there is a known possible threat to life or property.

If there is no alert posted on the www.emergency.wa.gov.au website, recorded on the information line or distributed to the media, it often means there is no threat to your area at this time.

In the event that there is a bushfire that is known to be threatening property or personal safety, DFES will issue community warnings and alerts through a number of channels.

However, bushfires can start suddenly so you need to be ready to act even if you do not get an official warning. You need to stay alert on hot days and look for information, regularly going outside to check for signs of bushfire. Act immediately for your own safety. Do not wait and see – this can be deadly.

How can I find out today’s Fire Danger Rating for my area?

Fire Danger Ratings are issued by the Bureau of Meteorology and are publicised by DFES when there is a rating of severe or above.

Check the Fire Danger Ratings page to find out whether your area has a rating at severe or above.

If your area is not listed on that page, you can find out the Fire Danger Rating for your area by going to the Bureau of Meteorology’s website and clicking on the relevant section of the map. Alternatively, scroll to the bottom of the Shire of Coolgardie website and view the Fire Danger Rating in the bottom footer.

What are firebreaks? Why are they required?

Firebreaks are ‘a strip of land that has been cleared of all trees, bushes, grasses and any other object or thing or flammable vegetation leaving clear, bare mineral earth.’

Firebreaks is also used as a generic term to describe the broader fire prevention work required by land or property owners.

Firebreaks are required in order to provide a safe area for firefighters to work from in a bushfire, to prevent the extension of a bushfire, and to prevent a fire entering or leaving your property.

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