❓ The Minister for Emergency Services responds to a question regarding the recent bushfire emergency in the Mid West, praising the efforts of emergency services, volunteers, and the community. The response acknowledges losses and highlights the coordinated response and resources deployed.
AnsweredQoN 691Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Emergency services—Bushfire response
691. Mr Mark Folkard to
the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer the minister
to the recent fire emergency in our state's Mid West. Can the minister update
the house on this outstanding response led by our emergency services volunteers
and the broader community to keep Western Australians safe?
691. Mr Mark Folkard to
the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer the minister
to the recent fire emergency in our state's Mid West. Can the minister update
the house on this outstanding response led by our emergency services volunteers
and the broader community to keep Western Australians safe?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for his question. I understand that he is a volunteer firefighter. He is
actually a veritable volunteer dynamo, because I know that he volunteers in
other fields, including in surf lifesaving as well—a great example for
the state. I also join the Premier and others in acknowledging the tragic loss
of Mark Mudie, and extend my condolences to his friends, family and loved ones.
It has been a tough couple of days. Yesterday in Wagin, another three personnel
suffered burns in dealing with an out-of-control bushfire in Wagin. I would
also like to extend my thoughts to Nick Morgan, the gentleman who lost his home
in Geraldton over the last couple of days. It is very sad. These tragic and
dangerous incidents confirm the challenge that we confront in Western
Australia, particularly at this time of year during the high-threat period.
It is therefore very
reassuring to be able to report to the chamber about the excellent response
that was led by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Geraldton
involving a wide range of career volunteer firefighters; other volunteers, like
the SES community; the local government; the Department of Communities; and St John
Ambulance. A range of people in the community came together in a coordinated and
collegial fashion to take on the challenge that they confronted, defeating a
real threat to the community of Geraldton.
Well over 500 homes
directly in the pathway of fires at different times during the last few days were
saved. Waggrakine Primary School was also saved, another place right in the
path of the fire. Fortunately, the very vulnerable people at the Nazareth
residential aged-care facility were also protected by the excellent efforts of
our firefighters and other personnel.
The Department of
Fire and Emergency Services is right now dealing with multiple fires across the
state. There are some 12 DFES alerts out there. I can tell members that that
response in Geraldton was almost a textbook example of how best it should work.
More than 200 personnel were brought together from across the state, including some
50 or so from a bush firefighting taskforce from Perth who were deployed to
assist. One DFES officer, who came from Albany, was running a lot of the show
in Geraldton. This was an example of just how dedicated people are to supporting
their fellow citizens. There were 55 appliances on the ground, four water
bombers—Air Tractors and two Black Hawk rotary-wing air bombers—and
Air Attack Supervisor aircraft as well. We have an incredible asset in the form
of our professional, career and volunteer workforce around the state and we
have an exceptional capability in terms of our aerial assets, which can be
deployed with agility and speed wherever they are required right around the
state.
I take the opportunity now to encourage everyone to
join the quarter of a million fellow Western Australians who have
downloaded the Emergency WA app, noting that it has been enhanced and gives
people the ability to have a bushfire plan pre-prepared, which will assist
people in the event they confront a challenge like Geraldton just did.
for his question. I understand that he is a volunteer firefighter. He is
actually a veritable volunteer dynamo, because I know that he volunteers in
other fields, including in surf lifesaving as well—a great example for
the state. I also join the Premier and others in acknowledging the tragic loss
of Mark Mudie, and extend my condolences to his friends, family and loved ones.
It has been a tough couple of days. Yesterday in Wagin, another three personnel
suffered burns in dealing with an out-of-control bushfire in Wagin. I would
also like to extend my thoughts to Nick Morgan, the gentleman who lost his home
in Geraldton over the last couple of days. It is very sad. These tragic and
dangerous incidents confirm the challenge that we confront in Western
Australia, particularly at this time of year during the high-threat period.
It is therefore very
reassuring to be able to report to the chamber about the excellent response
that was led by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Geraldton
involving a wide range of career volunteer firefighters; other volunteers, like
the SES community; the local government; the Department of Communities; and St John
Ambulance. A range of people in the community came together in a coordinated and
collegial fashion to take on the challenge that they confronted, defeating a
real threat to the community of Geraldton.
Well over 500 homes
directly in the pathway of fires at different times during the last few days were
saved. Waggrakine Primary School was also saved, another place right in the
path of the fire. Fortunately, the very vulnerable people at the Nazareth
residential aged-care facility were also protected by the excellent efforts of
our firefighters and other personnel.
The Department of
Fire and Emergency Services is right now dealing with multiple fires across the
state. There are some 12 DFES alerts out there. I can tell members that that
response in Geraldton was almost a textbook example of how best it should work.
More than 200 personnel were brought together from across the state, including some
50 or so from a bush firefighting taskforce from Perth who were deployed to
assist. One DFES officer, who came from Albany, was running a lot of the show
in Geraldton. This was an example of just how dedicated people are to supporting
their fellow citizens. There were 55 appliances on the ground, four water
bombers—Air Tractors and two Black Hawk rotary-wing air bombers—and
Air Attack Supervisor aircraft as well. We have an incredible asset in the form
of our professional, career and volunteer workforce around the state and we
have an exceptional capability in terms of our aerial assets, which can be
deployed with agility and speed wherever they are required right around the
state.
I take the opportunity now to encourage everyone to
join the quarter of a million fellow Western Australians who have
downloaded the Emergency WA app, noting that it has been enhanced and gives
people the ability to have a bushfire plan pre-prepared, which will assist
people in the event they confront a challenge like Geraldton just did.
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