Perth smoke warning: City to be smothered with smoke as prescribed burn near Bannister filters to Perth

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions have issued a smoke warning for the Perth metropolitan area for Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters were able to progress with prescribed burns around 40km away from Perth on Tuesday which will see smoke filter into the city overnight.

DBCA Swan Region Regional Leader Fire Management Brodie Selby explained that the burn is taking place after careful planning and preparation.

“The smoke is the result of couple of large landscape burns which is happening at the back of Perth Hills Forest which is really important part of our risk reduction prescribed burning program,” Mr Selby said.

“This burn that will likely cause some smoke impact tonight commenced on Good Friday, so it’s been what we would consider live for nearly two weeks now, so these aren’t burns that are just decided to commence today, this is a really complex management of fire across multiple weeks.”

Mr Selby explained that the Perth Hills district commenced their burn program in lead up to Autumn and Cyclone Narelle brought “fantastic” burning conditions, as the area received 50-80mm rainfall post cyclone event.

“Prescribed burning is the state’s main way of reducing bushfire risk, that is generally supported by fifty to sixty years of forest science which highlights the importance of how prescribed burning reduces the risk of bushfire,” he said.

The smoke impacts will likely be seen and smelt tomorrow morning as Perth locals wake up, Mr Selby says this is due to the smoke being blown by the easterly winds towards the Perth metro area.

“We are experiencing some of our most ideal Autumn burning conditions, so they’re supported by easterly winds, a really stable weather pattern, what that also means is that any smoke that’s brought about by the prescribed burn goes up into the upper atmosphere and filters down into the metropolitan area under those easterly conditions,” he said.

“What we’ll experience tonight is what we call an inversion layer, so there’ll be an atmospheric condition that causes smoke to settle down at a ground level which is what people can smell and have that reduced visibility.”

With strengthening winds forecast for the mid-morning on Wednesday the smoke should clear by midday but Mr Selby advised that residents can consult Emergency WA and Today’s Burns for live updates. The DBCA also advised that those with health conditions should consult their medical professional about the potential impact of smoke exposure.