Kimberley begins this years’ burning program

The program will include both aerial and controlled burns, as part of a range of risk reduction strategies, complementing programs run by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and others in the region.

The focus of the program, which will run until late April, is to reduce fuel loads near roadsides and on pastoral land.

People do not need to ring 000 to report controlled burning fires unless they believe lives or homes are under threat.

DFES Kimberley Superintendent Grant Pipe said motorists should take care if they encounter smoke.

"If you are driving in an area impacted by smoke caused by controlled burns, pull over, turn your hazard lights on and wait until the smoke clears,” he said.

Superintendent Pipe said the program is a vital part of keeping Kimberley communities safe.

"Bushfires are always a threat during dry season and these burns drastically reduce the risk of a bushfire spreading,” Superintendent Pipe said.

"Hazard reduction burns are vital to help us protect lives and communities, but also to protect livestock, local wildlife and native vegetation.”

The program will be conducted in partnership with the Kimberley Land Council, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Ecofire, Local Governments and pastoral stations who will each implement early season burn regimes with a shared aim of reducing the impact of bushfires.

For more information contact the DFES Kimberley Regional Office on (08) 9158 3200.

Media Contact: DFES Media and Corporate Communications 9225 5955