Bushfires and other emergencies are a constant presence in the City of Wanneroo. Follow the steps below and ensure you are as ready as possible:
- Connect with the City's Prepare Together Project and have your say
- Be aware of your risk, and understand alerts and warnings
- Prepare your home and property
- Know where to get information before and during a fire
- Have a Bushfire Survival Plan that includes your pets and animals
- Prepare an Emergency Survival Kit
1. Connect with the City's Prepare Together Project and have your say
- Visit the City's Your Say page and complete the Prepare Together Community Survey.
- Sign up to the Emergency Management Link eNewsletter to receive biannual updates on what's happening.
- Come along to a Community Roadshow. Dates will soon be available on our Your Say page.
- Organise your own Community Roadshow by inviting neighbours, family and friends to gather locally. Contact the City's Emergency Management Officer Simone Clarke by phoning 9405 5000.
- For more information visit: Preparing Together for Bushfires and Other Hazards.
2. Be aware of your risk, and understand alerts and warnings
Bushfire prone areas
Over 90% of the City of Wanneroo is bushfire prone. Find out if your home is in or near a bushfire prone area by visiting a Map of Bushfire Prone Area (areas highlighted in pink on the map indicate bushfire prone areas - please allow a few minutes for the map to load). Homes at risk may be rural or urban properties that are near bushland or coastal scrub. Find out more about your risk by visiting the DFES Bushfire Overview website.
Fire Danger Ratings
Fire Danger Ratings (FDRs) provide you with daily advice about the level of bushfire threat in your area. Check these often over the hotter, summer months. Fire Danger Rating Information Boards are displayed in the following locations and are updated daily:
- Corner Joondalup Drive and Wanneroo Road
- Wanneroo Road, south of the Yanchep Beach Road turn-off
- Wanneroo Road, Carabooda
- Marmion Avenue, Jindalee
- Neaves Road, Mariginiup
- Old Yanchep Road, Pinjar
- Gnangara Road, Landsdale
- Countryside Drive, Two Rocks
Bushfire Warning System
As part of the implementation of the Australian Warning System (AWS), bushfire warning symbols and colours changed in Western Australia on Tuesday 14 September 2021.
The Bushfire Warning System provides information on the severity of a bushfire once it has started.
There are three levels of warning. These change to reflect the increasing risk to your life or property, and the decreasing amount of time you have until the fire arrives.
- ADVICE - Yellow
A fire has started but there is no immediate threat to lives or homes. Stay alert and watch for signs of a fire. Be aware and keep up to date. - WATCH AND ACT - Orange
A fire is approaching and there is a possible threat to lives or homes. Put your plan into action. If your plan is to leave, make sure you leave early. If your plan is to stay, check all your equipment is ready. Only stay and defend if you are mentally and physically prepared. - EMERGENCY WARNING - RED
An out of control fire is approaching fast and you need to take immediate action to survive. If you haven’t prepared your home it is too late. You must seek shelter or leave now if it is safe to do so
Your surroundings could be your best information source. Stay alert to what is happening around you. If you believe you may be in danger, act immediately to stay safe.
3. Prepare your home and property
A well prepared property and constructed house is more likely to survive a bushfire than an unprepared one. Firefighers cannot defend every property and are unlikely to defend a poorly prepared property – remember, their lives are at risk too.
Download the Property Preparation Checklist below:
Bushfire Property Preparation checklist
4. Know where to get information before and during a fire
Throughout the hotter months, residents are encouraged to regularly check in to the sources of information below. By doing this, you will become familiar with the information provided, which will build your capacity and understanding to know exactly what to do when an emergency warning directly affects you and your home. The most up to date sources of information before and during a fire are ABC720, Emergency WA and your own personal support networks.
- ABC720AM
ABC720 is the official emergency broadcaster in Western Australia, including the City of Wanneroo. As warnings escalate, ABC720 will broadcast them more regularly. - EMERGENCY WA
Emergency WA is a map-based display with the best available emergency information from across the State. - Personal support networks
When the Fire Danger Ratings are severe and above, if you are at home, it is likely you will have the doors closed, blinds down and air-conditioning on. Often, a neighbour, a relative or a friend will be the first person to let you know that there is smoke around or a fire near-by. Talk to your neighbours, family and friends about your emergency plans, get to know your neighbours and the people in your street if you don’t already, write down the names of people that may help you in an emergency or that you may choose to help.
5. Have a Bushfire Survival Plan that includes your pets and animals
The best chance of surviving a bushfire or other major emergency is to plan what you would do if something were to come your way. Consider different scenarios like what you would do if you were at home with people visiting, or at work when a fire threatens, or if you have children home alone during the school holidays. Don’t forget to include your pets and animals in your emergency planning.
Take 5 minutes now to discuss these simple questions:
- When will you know to leave?
- Where will you go?
- Which way will you go?
Start your plan now: My Bushfire Plan
6. Prepare an Emergency Survival Kit
Having an emergency kit is an important step to prepare and protect your household for an emergency such as a bushfire. Keep your Emergency Survival Kit in a storage container in a location that is easy to get to and where the whole family knows about.
Things to include in your kit
Essential items
- portable battery operated AM/FM radio
- waterproof torch
- new spare batteries
- first aid kit with manual
- toiletries
- sunscreen
- change of clothes and shoes for everyone
- sturdy gloves and face and dust masks
- woollen blankets.
Important documents and sentimental items
- household emergency plan with emergency contact phone numbers
- passport, birth and marriage certificate and wills. Photocopy important documents or save them to a USB and store in your emergency kit
- house, life, health and car insurance documents and car license
- medicare, pension or personal identification cards and immunisation records.
- vaccination details and vet contacts for your pets and animals.
On the day, add
- cash, key cards and credit/debit cards
- essential medications, prescriptions and dosage
- special requirements for infants and children (including a favourite toy and activities)
- mobile phone and charger, or phone card
- extra car and house keys
- important memory sticks or CDs with personal information or sentimental/irreplaceable items.
Food and water
- drinking water (at least three litres per person per day for four days
- canned food (dried food is a good alternative) to last four days
- can opener, cooking gear and eating utensils.
Don't forget to prepare for your pets in your plan
- ensure your pet is wearing an identification tag
- include in your kit, copies of your pet's vaccination records and vetinary contact details
- if you're leaving - take a leash, basket, medication, food and a familiar toy.
For further information on preparing your pets and animals for a bushfire, visit the Animals in Emergencies website.
Having items put aside can increase self-reliance and decrease the stress and panic that can be overwhelming when faced with an emergency. If you do already have an emergency kit, make sure you check it over and ensure everything is up to date and working properly.