Great Southern fire chief’s stern warning on first day of region’s official ‘bushfire season’

As the region officially enters its bushfire season today, the head of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in the Great Southern says three high-risk areas in Albany will be a priority. Local governments were asked to provide three locations which need the most attention, with the City of Albany listing Goode Beach, Little and Big Grove, and Bayonet Head as major concerns. Those areas all had high fuel loads, limited access and exits, high population density in summer and legacy planning issues. DFES Great Southern superintendent Wayne Green called on Albany residents to prepare for an emergency. “Albany has some extreme bushfire risk,” Supt Green said. “We can’t predict where the fires are going to be but we want to reduce the risk in those identified areas. “Pruning trees, long grass and cleaning rubbish out of gutters — they all make a difference. “Having an emergency kit packed and ready to go, plus important documentation and communication methods, also helps.” In the Shire of Denmark, the three high-risk areas are Peaceful Bay, Ocean Beach and Weedon Hill. “Denmark is an extreme risk area for us. They’ve got a broad range of fuel types from coastal areas to karri forests,” Supt Green said. “They have locations, types of fuel and forested areas similar to the Eastern States fires last year. “So there is a heightened awareness over here in the west after seeing what happened in the east. “We’ve got $1.1 million of project works endorsed and approved. That’s a huge success to help with the physical treatment of fuel loads around the shire.” Supt Green said there was understanding and support in the Denmark community about the need for bushfire mitigation. “The entire Denmark community was surveyed as part of the bushfire risk management plan and 85 per cent of respondents supported fuel reduction in the landscape,” he said. “We’ve also gone from zero to 50-odd bushfire ready groups in the last two years.” “Just because funding and planning is in place, the risk is not gone. “We have quite a large burn program to complete in the area and that will give us a better chance to contain and control fires in those areas. This year we are better off than we were last year and the 12 months before that.” Kendenup and Mt Barker Hill are the two recognised risk areas in the Shire of Plantagenet. With a busy summer holidays around the corner, Supt Green said it was important for people to understand their environment and the danger of a bushfire. “Either at your house or at a camp site at the beach, everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings,” Supt Green said. “If it’s a catastrophic day, houses are not built to survive that. “Understand the fire danger ratings and if you are prepared, then you’ve got time to make clear decisions. It is the same for people camping in the bush, on any elevated fire-danger day, you need to have a bushfire plan.”