First of its kind expo offers family fun weekend to support locals to be bushfire ready

The City of Armadale is proud to support the first ever Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Ready Expo to be held over two days 19 and 20 October in Bedfordale.

Presented by the Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, the weekend long event offers a host of free family fun and education aimed at educating local residents on how to protect their property and family from bushfire.

With the Department of Fire and Emergency Services recording 144 bushfire incidents in 2018/19 and this number growing yearly, the event aims to help residents get ‘bushfire ready’ ahead of a premature bushfire season.

City of Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones OAM, JP said research indicates most people do not know what to do in a bushfire and it is important they have a plan.

“With research indicating most people do not know what to do in a bushfire and often leave the area too late which is likely to cause injury or death, the need to have a plan becomes critical,” Mayor Zelones said.

“We hope events like these will really involve the community, in an enjoyable way, in learning some important tips about how to plan for the likely event of a bushfire and help keep their family and home safe”.

The two day event will include food stalls, giveaways, fire brigades plus various guest speakers such as the City of Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones, OAM JP, the DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm and the Minister for Emergency Services Francis Logan.

Families can also enjoy exploring fire trucks and a rescue helicopter, as well as pick up some handy free planning tools such as the Department of Fire and Emergency’s 5 Minute Chat packs and other resources.

The event runs Saturday 19 October from 10am to 5pm through to Sunday 20 October from 8am to 3pm at the Bedfordale Community Hall, 40 Admiral Road, Bedfordale.

The Bedfordale Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade is one of three volunteer fire fighting brigades in the area as well as Roleystone Volunteer Fire Services and the WA Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service in Armadale.

For more information interested people can visit the Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Brigade website at www.bvbfb.org.au or Facebook page www.facebook.com/bedfordalefirebrigade.