Fire risk 'real for Geraldton'

Geraldton is unlikely to experience catastrophic bushfires such as those at Waroona and Yarloop this month, but residents should still be well prepared for bushfires, according to a local fire management expert.

District officer for Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Gordon Purvis, said fuel loads in and around Geraldton were not as dense as in fire-affected areas of the South West, but there was still risk of bushfires and residents should not be complacent.

“There is always risk around the fringes of Geraldton that bushfires could attack properties. Residents should be aware that they live near the bush and they should have a good fire plan,” he said.

Mr Purvis said the City of Greater Geraldton was proactive in reducing fire risk on council land and ensured home owners fulfilled their obligation to maintain firebreaks and keep their properties clear of fire hazards.

He said generally suburbs near bushland such as Spalding, Mount Tarcoola and those along the Chapman River reserve, were well-prepared for fire threats.

Mr Purvis, who has 35 years of firefighting experience, said the most common mistake people made was in assuming their own property and lives were not at risk of fire.

“I think some people assume it won’t happen to them and so they are not prepared. The people who are prepared are the ones who get a good outcome,” he said.

“If you are in the proximity of bush you should have a plan. People should have a fire management plan for bushfire or for a fire in the structure of their house.”

He said only people who had the ability to extinguish fire should stay and defend their property.

“If you are in a bushfire prone area, one of the prerequisites is you need a pump that doesn’t run on electricity and you need your own water supply, such as a tank or swimming pool,” he said.

“If fire is coming over the hill and takes down the power lines, you could lose electricity, which could take out the pumping station and then you lose the (scheme) water supply. These things happen.”

Fire plans and information about how to prepare, act and survive in a bushfire and house fires is available from www.dfes.gov.au/safetyinformation/fire.