Bushfire preparation fact sheet

• You live in or near bush.
• You live in a local area that has a history of bushfires.
• You have trees or shrubs within 20 metres of your house.
• You live on a slope or hill.

Summer and autumn

In the Perth metropolitan area and the southern half of WA, the bushfire season typically starts in November and runs through to April. The most susceptible areas for fire in Perth are the Perth Hills and forested area along the Darling Scarp, where strong easterly winds early in the day can fan fires.

Winter and spring

In the north of WA, different conditions mean a different fire risk period. The Kimberley fire season usually occurs in the hot, dry winter and spring months when grasses have dried, from June to the end of October. In the Pilbara, the greatest risk is between August and November. In the Mid West and Gascoyne, it’s between September and December.

• Create a 20-metre building protection zone around your home and other buildings by clearing the area of rubbish, long dry grass, bark and other materials that may catch fire.
• Create a mineral earth firebreak along the boundary of your property that meets local government requirements.
• Create and maintain a minimum two metre gap between trees and your home. Prune lower branches to prevent a ground fire spreading into the canopy of the trees.
• Keep grass short, and prune shrubs and trees.
• Store petrol, kerosene and firewood or other flammable material away from your home in a cleared area.
• To prevent sparks getting into your home, close in the eaves and other gaps that lead into the roof or under the floors.
• Maintain gutters and keep the roof clear of leaves.
• Ensure hoses reach all corners of your house.

For more information download our fact sheet.

• Fire cover (natural and accidental).
• Flood, earthquake and storm cover.
• New-for-old cover on home contents, regardless of age.
• Cover for furniture, carpets, household goods, appliances and gardening tools.
• Cover for clothing, jewellery and precious items.
• Cover for tools of trade.
• Cover for fences.

For more information contact DFES on +61 8 9395 9300 or visit dfes.wa.gov.au