Fires In Western Australia

Posted by Philippa Rowlands Feb 10, 2007

Fire Warning For Tourists to Western Australia

Fire is unpredictable, and dangerous and yet tourists find the Australian bushfire season strangely fascinating and even travel great distances to catch a glimpse of the smoke and flames. It seems to provide a thrill to international onlookers, while at the same time local Australians are cautious and tend to steer well clear of any blaze.

What You Can Do!

1. If you are travelling in Australia during bushfire season do not investigate sightings of smoke or flame. You can report flame to the emergency 000 number or smoke sightings to the local fire brigade.
2. Listen carefully to radio announcements to find out if roads are clear.
3. Do not travel to a fire area in the hope of seeing a bushfire.
4. Keep out of the way of fire trucks and emergency vehicles.
5. Do not throw cigarette butts out of car windows. Littering from a car carries a heavy fine, but this action may well start a bushfire. Several of the blazes that have plagues Western Australia through February are thought to have been deliberately (or accidentally) lit. They are unlikely to be natural fires.

Western Australia Fire Update

Seventy kilometres south East of Perth, near the historical town of Dwellingup a bushfire has destroyed 14 houses and damaged three more, communications are still severely hampered with over 100 power poles destroyed. Even though the fire has been contained at this stage fire fighters are still working on containment lines ahead of a windy change. The fire is still considered to be unstable.

There are other fires burning near North Yunderup, Greenfields and Parkland and near Toodyay, Williams and Forrestdale.