- State Government funded Large Aerial Tanker
(LAT) on standby to fight fires
- All 36 firefighting and intelligence aircraft in
aerial fleet now operational
- Black Hawk helicopters activated three weeks
early in response to bushfire risk
Western
Australia's aerial firefighting fleet is in full force from today, with two
Black Hawk helicopters and the WA Large Air Tanker (LAT) coming online.
Emergency
Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the Black Hawks have been activated three
weeks early in response to the high bushfire risk in WA, ensuring that the
State has all its aerial resources ready for deployment.
The LAT,
a C130 Hercules, begins its 90-day posting in WA for the second year after the Cook
Government's ongoing commitment to secure the aircraft for the bushfire season.
Each
Black Hawk can hold up to 4,500 litres of water or suppressant, while the C130
has a capacity of more than 15,000 litres and can cruise at speeds of up to
545km/h.
Most of
the aerial fleet was activated early throughout October and November in
response to the early start to bushfire season, while the Department of Fire
and Emergency Services (DFES) secured LATs from the Rural Fire Service in New
South Wales for periods of high fire risk until the State's own aircraft was
available.
This
season DFES will also relocate two Helitak Bell 412B aircraft to Gingin from 7
December to boost firefighting capability north of Perth, with aircraft
regularly relocated to regional air bases as the bushfire risk profile changes
on a weekly basis.
There
have been 1,611 bushfires since early October and the aerial fleet has already flown
376 hours across 42 incidents, completing 926 drops of more than two million
litres of water and retardant on firegrounds from Karratha to Esperance.
The
aerial fleet comprises 36 rotary and fixed-wing suppression and aerial
intelligence aircraft and is managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency
Services and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
During
2022-2023 the fleet logged more than 1,400 hours of flight time and completed 3,579
drops of 10.3 million litres across the State.
Comments
attributed to Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"While Western
Australia is experiencing a high-risk bushfire season, our emergency services
have been preparing for months including training and bringing forward key
resources like the aerial fleet to keep the community safe.
"The Cook
Government is proud to fund the Large Air Tanker as part of our investment to
boost our firefighting arsenal to support fire fighters and protect local
communities.
"Highly
skilled and experienced career and volunteer personnel from DFES and DBCA will
be supported on the fireground by a fleet of advanced and agile aircraft that
provide aerial suppression, containment and intelligence.
"I urge
every Western Australian to finalise their bushfire preparations now and use
the My Bushfire Plan app or website to make critical safety decisions in case
they are threatened by a fire."
Comments
attributed to Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
"The
aerial fleet is integral to our firefighting strategies, particularly when
fires occur in challenging and remote terrain or when there are extreme fire
conditions.
"While
some aircraft are usually available in November, the full aerial fleet would
typically not commence until late December, consistent with when we start to
experience high-risk fire conditions.
"The
steps we have taken this year should send a strong message to the community
that WA is facing an unusually long and dangerous bushfire season, and everyone
needs to be prepared.
"It is
very concerning that only just over one per cent of households have a recorded
bushfire plan and I ask everyone to take the time to sit down with your family
now and agree on your course of action using the My Bushfire Plan platform."
