Bushfire risks you should know about in Western Australia

More than 90 per cent of Western Australia is bushfire prone including many parts of the Perth metropolitan area.

In the southern half of WA, including Perth, bushfire season typically runs from October to April and in the north of the state from June to October.

In the far north, different seasons 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. Further south in the Pilbara, the greatest risk is between August and November.

However, bushfires can start at any time so it’s important to understand your level of bushfire risk and what you can do to mitigate that risk, to protect your property and also to prevent fires from starting in the first place.

Metropolitan Perth fire risk

Being bushfire aware is essential for everyone living in WA, even in the state’s larger city centres, including Perth.

Many pockets of the Perth metropolitan area are bushfire prone. In particular the Town of Cambridge and the City of Cockburn contain large tracts of bushland that are at risk. In 2022 there more than 110 large bushfires in the Perth metropolitan area.

The biggest area of bushfire risk in the metropolitan area is in the Perth Hills region along the Darling Range, which lies east of the city centre. Here strong easterly winds during the hotter months can cause fires to spread quickly.

Because fire travels faster up inclines than on level ground, the hilly terrain also means bush fires in this area can move more quickly and become harder to control.

Residents in any part of the state that is bushfire prone should understand their individual risk level and know how to respond should a fire breakout nearby.

Mapping WA’s bushfire risk areas

Past bushfire events in your area can help you understand your level of risk. To check whether your property is within an area of known bushfire risk, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has developed an interactive map of bushfire prone areas in WA. The map allows you to enter a specific address to check whether it falls within an area of bushfire risk.

Bushfire prone areas are tracts of land that have been identified as being subject to, or likely to be subject to bushfire and which contain vegetation that can provide fuel for a fire. However, it’s important to understand that other areas not identified as within a bushfire prone area on the map may still be at risk.

Many vegetation types are classified as bushfire prone in WA. Open forest with trees more than 30m high and with understory vegetation are high risk, as are woodlands containing tree species such as eucalypts and melaleuca under 30m high.

Shrublands, including those with low shrubs less than 2m high and understorey grasses, and open scrub greater than 2m high, are classified as bushfire prone vegetation, in addition to some areas of grassland.

In order to understand your risk level, it’s important assess the type of vegetation around your property and to put safeguards in place to ensure fuel loads around your home are reduced, that trees and other vegetation are kept away from the perimeter your home and where appropriate, that firebreaks are in place.

How a bushfire plan can save lives

Residents in all areas of the state that are bushfire prone should have a bushfire action plan. A bushfire plan will provide you with the appropriate steps to take if your home is threatened by fire.

Your plan will be specific to your circumstances and property, and will include triggers that signal how you respond at each stage, including when you should leave, how you’ll leave, or whether you stay to defend your property.

In instances where you choose to leave your property, you’ll need to make an assessment of exactly when to go. To make this decision, check for regular updates about the progress of the fire via the Emergency WA website. DFES also displays regular updates on their Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.

Your bushfire plan will also define the options you have to escape via the safest route, where to travel to for shelter, what to take and who you need to notify about your decision.

DFES has an app which will guide you through creating your plan. You can download the My Bushfire Plan app from the App Store and Google Play. Alternatively, visit mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au for more information.

Fire danger ratings

There are four levels of fire danger ratings which use a traffic light system. These are set each day according to the conditions.

During a green level rating, conditions are such that fires can be controlled but you should stay informed of possible fires in your area. A yellow rating indicates that any fires can become dangerous. Amber and red ratings indicate the most dangerous bushfire conditions.

Once a fire has started in your area, you’ll need to stay up to date with the specific warning levels for that fire. These will range from ‘Advice’, ‘Watch and Act’ to ‘Emergency’. The relevant warning level will be displayed and updated on the emergency.wa.gov website.

Preparing your home for bushfire season

In addition to how you plan to respond to a bushfire, you should also plan to have your property ready for bushfire season by reducing any potential fuel loads.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services recommends you:

• Create a 20m building protection zone around your home and other buildings.
• Maintain a minimum two-metre gap between trees and your home, and prune lower branches.
• Keep grass short, prune shrubs and trees and clear gutters and roofs of leaves.
• Ensure hoses can reach all corners of your property.
• To prevent sparks and embers getting into your home, place a mesh guard on your air conditioner and block any gaps under floor spaces, in the roof and under eaves.