- Additional $10.1 million investment to bolster State Aerial Firefighting Fleet
- WA to have largest ever aerial firefighting fleet this bushfire season
- New Cardup Career Fire and Rescue Service Station on track to be completed by December 2024
- Community urged to prepare now and make a lifesaving bushfire plan
The Cook Labor Government has committed an additional $10.1 million to bolster Western Australia's aerial firefighting fleet and help keep Western Australians safe ahead of what is expected to be another challenging bushfire season.
Two additional Black Hawk helicopters will be brought on to the State Aerial Firefighting Fleet to provide rapid response to bushfires across Western Australia, as part of the State's biggest ever aerial firefighting fleet of ex-military aircraft.
The helicopters, which can hold up to 4,500 litres of water each, will be online for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons and based in strategic locations to the north and south of the metropolitan region.
Premier Roger Cook and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson made the announcement today while visiting the site of the new Cardup Career Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) Station, which is on track to be completed in December this year.
The $14.5 million facility fulfils a major Labor Government election commitment to future-proof demand for emergency services in Perth's rapidly growing south-east corridor.
The station will receive three state-of-the-art appliances and be crewed by 36 firefighters, part of a multimillion-dollar investment in career personnel.
It comes as the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) launched its annual bushfire safety campaign, highlighting that it takes just 15 minutes to make a plan which could save your property or your life. This year's campaign is being launched more than a month early due to an increased risk of bushfires.
More than 93 per cent of WA is bushfire-prone, yet only 1.95 per cent of households have a recorded plan. Prolonged periods of dryness have left a large amount of mature fuel throughout WA, which is why Western Australians are being urged to get ready for what could prove to be an extremely challenging season.
The My Bushfire Plan app and website help users make the critical choice of leaving early or staying to defend and has important prompts including what to do with pets and what is needed if you have to evacuate.
Visitwww.mybushfireplan.wa.gov.auor download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My Government is stepping up to invest in the best facilities, equipment and resources possible, as well as more firefighters to help keep Western Australians safe from the growing risk of bushfires.
"We've acted early ahead of a potentially tough season to secure two extra Black Hawks, which will provide invaluable support for firefighters on the ground as they work to protect lives and homes.
"The completion of Cardup Fire Station this year and the delivery of additional frontline career personnel is another important milestone for public safety.
"It meets a key Labor Government election commitment and will ensure a swift and effective emergency response in one of WA's fastest growing areas well into the future."
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The new Cardup Fire Station is strategically placed near main roads, homes, schools and businesses and boasts a contemporary design which draws on extensive research and community consultation.
"I look forward to seeing this modern facility up and running soon and the benefits it will deliver to the local community during what looks like being another busy bushfire season.
"Our dedicated emergency services personnel are getting ready for summer - now it's time for all Western Australians to play their part and spend 15 minutes creating a bushfire plan.
"Making decisions when the heat is on is extremely difficult and dangerous, so don't leave it too late or you could be putting your family at risk."
As stated by Darling Range MLA Hugh Jones:
"Our State's newest fire station is really coming together and will be a great asset for Cardup, Byford and surrounds this bushfire season.
"With state-of-the-art appliances and dozens of career firefighters, this $14.5 million facility will support our community for decades to come."
As stated by Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
The 2023-24 bushfire season was longer and more intense than we have experienced in recent years and should serve as a wake-up call to the community.
"The first emergency-level bushfire arrived much earlier than usual, in October 2023, and over the seven months that followed firefighters battled 5,088 bushfires - 1,000 more than the previous season.
"Key climate and soil moisture indicators are pointing to another challenging summer, so having 36 firefighters based at the new Cardup Fire Station and two more Black Hawks will be a welcome addition to our firefighting arsenal.
"But the reality is firefighters can't be at every home during an emergency, so it's important that people sit down with their family now, complete a bushfire plan and agree on a course of action to keep them safe using the My Bushfire Plan app or website."
