Prepare now and be Bushfire Ready

The City of Armadale is encouraging residents to be proactive and reduce fuel loads to make their properties bushfire safe ahead of this summer.

Mayor Henry Zelones said a stark reminder to everyone is the devastating bushfires last year in the Blue Mountains that destroyed 196 homes.

“It is critical that people living in bushfire prone areas maintain protection zones around their properties. It may be the difference between losing and keeping your house in the event of an emergency situation.

“Anyone who has not prepared their property puts the whole street at risk.

“Preparing your home for bushfires can make a world of difference for firefighters, who may have to prioritise between which houses are saveable and which are not – the ones that are prepared are sometimes the only ones saveable in those really dire situations.

“We are also encouraging residents to be part of a Bushfire Ready Group (BRG). This is a community driven program established by DFES in collaboration with local government to increase the resilience of the community to bushfire risk.

“The aim of every BRG is to build community resilience and reduce bushfire risk by working together to protect families and properties.

“Bushfire Ready Groups are a great networking tool and information source for residents living in bushfire prone areas.

“They provide residents with a point of contact, a network of information and an emergency strategy to ensure they are prepared for bushfire season.

The City also encourages residents to get a Bushfire Ready brochure and FESA information booklets from the City’s Administration building or by visiting www.dfes.wa.gov.au.