Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan is warning Western Australians to take immediate action to prepare themselves, their family and their property for bushfires this summer.
The warning comes as wildfires in California, USA, have taken the lives of at least 50 people, with many more still missing and more than 9,200 homes and buildings destroyed.
Touring Perth's fire-prone eastern suburbs today, Mr Logan stressed to residents that preparation was the best line of defence against the inevitability of fire.
Last year 5,000 fires raged across Western Australia, burning a total of 4.5 million hectares of bush. This is equal to seven times the Perth metropolitan area.
The Minister joined local Bushfire Ready groups to inspect a well-prepared property in Bullsbrook.
To prepare your property start by trimming trees, cutting long grass, clearing gutters and removing any debris or rubbish from around your home.
Put together an emergency kit ready to go in case you are evacuated or cut off during a bushfire including essential supplies such as an AM radio, spare batteries, torch, first-aid kit, woollen blanket, water and non-perishable food.
Regardless of whether you are staying or leaving, preparing an emergency kit can save precious time during an emergency as well as having a five-minute 'Fire Chat' with your family.
Visit http://www.firechat.wa.gov.au to create your bushfire plan today.
As noted by Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan:
"Western Australians know all too well the devastating and potentially deadly impact fires can have.
"No one can afford to be complacent.
"Volunteer and career firefighters do an amazing job trying to protect communities during a bushfire but there will never be enough of them to knock on every door and save every home.
"People need to take action now to prepare themselves, their family and their property by having a five-minute Fire Chat and creating a plan using the Bushfire Preparation Toolkit.
"Take 30 minutes right now to plan what you will do during a bushfire because leaving it to the last minute could be deadly.
"Today I toured several well-prepared properties in Bullsbrook and was really pleased to see homeowners taking steps to protect themselves and their homes, and I implore everyone to follow their lead and get ready today."
