Region must prepare for fire season

A bushfire specialist claims an annual review predicting an above normal fire risk for the South West is pointless and it is up to luck whether the region will be hit with another catastrophic blaze which could “wipe out” towns.

The former general manager of Conservation and Land Management — now Department of Parks and Wildlife — says he takes “no notice” of the Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook which was released last month.

Bushfire Front chairman Roger Underwood says “without fail” there is a dangerous fire season every summer and residents and authorities needed to prepare.

The outlook, commissioned by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, claims despite early and close to average rainfall there is an “underlying long-term deficit in the soil moisture” in the South West.

It says recent bushfires and prescribed burning has reduced fuel loads in some areas, but high loads of forest fuels have resulted in “above normal fire potential”.

Mr Underwood said irrespective of any index, the region experienced a hot, dry summer every year and several South West towns were at risk of being wiped out depending on luck.

“The factors that lead to catastrophic fires are a heat wave with dry thunderstorms, lightning strikes and strong winds along with heavy fuels in which fires become unstoppable,” he said.

“We already have the heavy fuels and bad fire days occur nearly every summer.

“Numerous South West areas are vulnerable ... forest towns like Jarrahdale, Dwellingup and Collie.

“Any or several of these could be wiped out in one day if the wrong conditions coincide.”

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services came out with its warning in response to the outlook, saying residents needed to start creating bushfire survival plans and making plans to reduce fuel loads at properties.

DFES was contacted for comment regarding the value of the outlook, but was unable to get a response before going to print.

Mr Underwood said residents should not sit back and wait for a fire to start.

“WA needs a bushfire management approach that focuses on prevention and damage mitigation, not on firefighting,” he said.