- Grain Harvest Aerial Fleet activated to help keep farmers safe
- Waterbombers will respond to crop fires in Wheatbelt, Mid West, and Great Southern
- First strike team to operate from Narrogin
A fleet of specialised aircraft has been activated early to help protect growers and Western Australia's multibillion-dollargrain harvest as the fire risk increases.
A strike team of two fixed-wing waterbombers and an air attack supervisor are now based in Narrogin, ready to respond to fast-moving crop fires in the Wheatbelt.
A further two teams will come online from 1 November, strategically positioned in Geraldton and Esperance to protect busy farming communities across the Mid West and Great Southern.
The waterbombers can reach speeds up to 350 kilometres per hour, drop up to 3,150 litres of water, foam, or retardant and require just minutes to refuel and reload.
During the 2025-26 season, the Grain Harvest Aerial Fleet attended 34 incidents and flew nearly 142 hours. Crews assisted at major fires in Warradarge, Geraldton, Mindarabin, and West River.
The fleet is part of the Cook Labor Government's commitment to bolstering emergency preparedness and response across remote and regional communities.
It is managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) with support from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
As the weather heats up, rural property owners are urged to create an Emergency Plan that includes their family and employees using the Emergency WA app or website and stay up to date with the latest warnings and alerts.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby:
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to protecting farmers during this busy period which is why we are activating aerial assets early to meet a heightened fire risk across the Wheatbelt.
"The Grain Harvest Aerial Fleet is now in its sixth year and has proved vital in helping to rapidly suppress fires before they can destroy farms, livelihoods, and communities.
"Fire safety during harvest is a shared responsibility and I urge growers to ensure they are well prepared and have an emergency plan in place for their families and employees."
Comments attributed to Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:
"During the 2025-26 season, DFES responded to some particularly dangerous harvest fires which reached Emergency Warning level, threatening lives and property.
"Crop fires are commonly sparked by machinery or lightning and can spread extremely quickly, so it is vital we provide a rapid and effective firefighting response.
"These aircraft can be on the scene of a fire quickly and will be repositioned across key grain-growing regions throughout the harvest period based on the most up-to-date risk assessments."
