❓ Hon. Alanna Clohesy questions the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the lack of SMS warnings for residents near the Ellenbrook fires. The response explains the limitations of the telephone warning system and suggests alternative information sources.
AnsweredQoN 1331Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ELLENBROOK
FIRES — SMS WARNING SYSTEM
1331. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the
fires in Ellenbrook on Sunday and the SMS warning system.
(1) Can the
Minister for Emergency Services explain why residents just two doors down from
the fire front were not alerted about the fires?
(2) Can the
minister explain why residents just hundreds of metres away from the fire front
were also not alerted?
FIRES — SMS WARNING SYSTEM
1331. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the
Attorney General representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the
fires in Ellenbrook on Sunday and the SMS warning system.
(1) Can the
Minister for Emergency Services explain why residents just two doors down from
the fire front were not alerted about the fires?
(2) Can the
minister explain why residents just hundreds of metres away from the fire front
were also not alerted?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Emergency Services, I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Services advises as follows.
(1)–(2)
If a fire starts close to properties and moves very quickly, it is not always
possible to activate the telephone warning system in time. The telephone
warning system was not used for this fire. The telephone warning system is just
one way that people may receive a warning. The Department of Fire and Emergency
Services recommends that people seek information from a variety of sources,
including: monitoring their surroundings; staying in touch with neighbours and
friends; checking the DFES website or the DFES phone line, which is 13 33 37;
monitoring the DFES twitter account, which is @dfes_wa; and radio emergency
broadcasts and the media.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The Department of Fire and
Emergency Services advises as follows.
(1)–(2)
If a fire starts close to properties and moves very quickly, it is not always
possible to activate the telephone warning system in time. The telephone
warning system was not used for this fire. The telephone warning system is just
one way that people may receive a warning. The Department of Fire and Emergency
Services recommends that people seek information from a variety of sources,
including: monitoring their surroundings; staying in touch with neighbours and
friends; checking the DFES website or the DFES phone line, which is 13 33 37;
monitoring the DFES twitter account, which is @dfes_wa; and radio emergency
broadcasts and the media.
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