Perth high temperatures bring fire warning

Wednesday 6 February 2019

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has urged Perth residents to be prepared for bushfires as the city faces its first series of high temperatures in five years.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM said that high temperatures and dry fuel conditions raised the prospect of fires igniting and escalating over the next week.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted five days of maximums above 35 degrees Celsius for the first time since 2014, with warm weather extending into next week.

Commissioner Klemm said while the first half of the 2018-19 bushfire season had been without major incident, Perth had not experienced a prolonged period of high temperatures till now.

“We’ve had good success at getting on top of fires early so far this season, but we can never be complacent,” he said.

“With windy weather conditions forecast for tomorrow and Friday, the smallest of fires can get out of control rapidly, and we all need to be prepared for that very real possibility.

“Ninety per cent of WA is bushfire-prone and, as we’ve seen with the recent bushfires in Tasmania and earlier in Queensland, there can never be a fire truck outside every house.

“People need to prepare by going to firechat.wa.gov.au and having a five-minute talk with their families about what they will do if a bushfire threatens their area.”

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News Editors/Chiefs of Staff: Contact DFES Media if you are interested in an interview to hear more about how high temperatures can impact fire threats.

Media Contact: DFES Media and Corporate Communications 9395 9543