1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: We live in a big state and a lot of 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: it's flammable, and bushfire season is well and truly here 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: there's no easing into it this year with the fires 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: in Bullsbrook, Gerrelton and down south the last couple of weeks, 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: and of course currently fires destroying homes on the New 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: South Wales central coast, and a recent survey with Amy 7 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: Insurance revealed that fifty two percent of West Ozzies have 8 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: not got their homes prepared for bush fires. Assistant Commissioner 9 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 1: at DFS, Danny Moscone, is joining us this morning. Thank 10 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: you for coming in for this timely chat. 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 2: Good morning, Thanks guys, thanks for having me well. 12 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: With increased drought and hot or dryer conditions, does defes 13 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: expect eight more severe bush far season this year? 14 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: It's always a question we get asked frequently, just at 15 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 2: this time of year. I think for me, the important 16 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 2: thing to understand for listeners is that we live in 17 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: a high bushfire prone area. So ninety three percent of 18 00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 2: our state is bushfire prone, and so it's a big state. 19 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: And it's a big state, it's a. 20 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: Very big state. But regardless of the outlook, I always 21 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: tell people that we only need a few days of 22 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: challenging weather and we do have a few days coming 23 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 2: up with the forecast, a few days of challenging weather, 24 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 2: and we get a fire start in the wrong spot 25 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: on the wrong day, and we know we're going to 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 2: be challenged. So that is one of our challenges for 27 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: Western Australia. 28 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 3: And this time of view, of course, with the high 29 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 3: winds too. You know, once something starts, it's off and 30 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 3: it becomes very very hard to contain. How how do 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 3: people in Perth, Because I think a lot of people 32 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 3: in the metro area think, oh that's out there, that 33 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 3: doesn't sort of affect me. But how can Perth residents 34 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 3: in the more suburban areas themselves prepare for bushfires? 35 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a really good question. We've got a lot 36 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: of information on our website. So first thing I'd ask 37 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 2: all listeners is to go onto our website and you 38 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: can go to the prepare section. There's a lot of 39 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: information there. We're constantly adding to that information. But some 40 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: of the basic things that the community can do to 41 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: make sure that their gutters are clean because often we 42 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 2: lose properties from ember attack embers falling onto roofs. Embers 43 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: then then fall into the gutters, and if they're full 44 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 2: of leaves, they'll catch on fire obviously leaves and twigs, 45 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: and then we have a fire in the roof of 46 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: the house. 47 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 3: And even if you're a fair way away from the bush, 48 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 3: those embers can come a long way, can't they. 49 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, they can depending on the type of fuel 50 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: that we're talking about, but embers can travel more than 51 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: a kilometer. So people need to remember that. And you're 52 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: right when you say it's not just people that live 53 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: in the Perth Hills. We've experienced fires just recently down 54 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 2: around Auburn Grove, and all through those areas is there's 55 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: urban park land, So people just need to remember about that. 56 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 2: So clean gutters probably is the number one thing. Keep 57 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: your lawns mode around your properties and then rake up 58 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: any leaves. If you've got a big property, for example 59 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,839 Speaker 2: in the Hills, we've got a little bit of acreage. 60 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 2: Sometimes that can be a bit daunting, So i'd suggest 61 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: probably concentrate on that twenty five meter radius around your 62 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: property to start with, and then work outwards. And then 63 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: the next bit is to prune tree. So make sure 64 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: that I'd recommend not having any trees within two meters 65 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 2: of your house, and then in that twenty five meter 66 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: zone low prune those trees, so take all the branches 67 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 2: from the ground up to about two meters. And what 68 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: that does is it stops fire or assisting in stopping 69 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: fire running up into those trees, because once the fires 70 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: in those trees, that's when it's really difficult to stop, 71 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: and that's when we get those embers. 72 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: Some of those places in the semi rural, up in 73 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: the hills and so on, you would assume that people 74 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: would be right on top of their fire plan, but 75 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if it's complacency or if it's because 76 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: they're like, I want to live in the bush because 77 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: I want the trees hating right over my house. Well 78 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: do you find that they can be a bit you know, 79 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: sort of Their plans aren't. 80 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: Great, They could be better, They could be better. I 81 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: think that's a good description. There's an element of that. Yeah. Yeah, Look, 82 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 2: there's a lot of people that do the right thing 83 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 2: and plan as best they can, but you're right, there 84 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: are people that do need to take more, take more 85 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 2: effort and understand that there's a significant risk in the bush, 86 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 2: in the Perth Hills or in any of those high 87 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 2: bushfire areas, so you know, it's not too late to plan, 88 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 2: and we're recommending that you start that planning and preparation. 89 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 3: Now, Danny, we were talking earlier, actually just before we 90 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 3: came on up to you about the about the percentage 91 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 3: of arson. That is the care because there are so 92 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 3: many varying reasons for the beginning of bushfire, some of 93 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 3: them industrial accidents. We talked. You know, we hear about 94 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 3: pole top fires, wires coming down in high winds, but 95 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 3: how much of it is down to arson as well? 96 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a good question. Last year, during our high 97 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 2: threat periods, so from about November through to April, we 98 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 2: had only three thousand, three hundred bushfires and about four 99 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty six of those were suspicious. So that's 100 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 2: a high amount and you know we work closely with 101 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: police to try and reduce that number. Probably the key 102 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: message is if anyone does see anything suspicious, to call crime. 103 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 3: So we need to keep our eyes open about it too. 104 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, be vigilant, report those anything suspicious through to crime 105 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 2: stoppers on one eight hundred interaction. 106 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, Now what items should people have ready for, 107 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: you know, in case of a bushfire? 108 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, so if. 109 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 2: You've If you are going to leave during a bush fire, 110 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 2: then we recommend that you have an emergency kit. So 111 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 2: some of the items that would be useful to having 112 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: those kit would be a battery operated radio so you 113 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 2: can continue to listen to warnings, battery operated torch so 114 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:59,039 Speaker 2: you can obviously see at nighttime. First aid kit's really useful. 115 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: A woolen blank drinking water is really important. And then 116 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: any of those small valuables like credit cards, you wallet, 117 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 2: any any sort of sentimental jewelry people I've no people 118 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 2: who have put photos onto thumb drives and things like 119 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 2: that and keep that in their kit. Really important that 120 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: you have your kit in a box or packed in 121 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: your car ready to go, ready to go yeap. So 122 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: you shouldn't be sort of going through the list and 123 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: getting onto the website while embers are sort of, you know, 124 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: potentially raining down on your property. 125 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 3: It's probably a thirty minute, one hour job yea. And 126 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 3: then you execure it exactly. 127 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: And so keep keep up to date with bushrailettes on 128 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: the defest website, not your community Facebook page where people 129 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: are going who can you smell smoke? Just go to 130 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: the source of information of information Danny thank you for 131 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 1: coming in this morning, and you know, let's hope that 132 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: you're not run off your feet this summer. 133 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, look, just one other if I may. You 134 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 2: mentioned about the DFAs website, but we also have the 135 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: Emergency WA app, so it's really important that everyone downloads 136 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: that app. We've had it for a couple of years now. 137 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 2: It's a one stop shop so people can learn about 138 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 2: or see warnings, total firebands, fire danger ratings, set watch 139 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: owes for their particular area. And we've added a new 140 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: function to the app this year, which is a planning tool, 141 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: so people can now put their plan into the app. 142 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 2: There's triggers in the app. It's really intuitive. You can 143 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: set up plans for bushfire, cyclone, storm and flood. It 144 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: takes about fifteen minutes to do, and you can share 145 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: that plan with your family. 146 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: It's a one stop shop, one stop shop. That's the 147 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 3: Emergency Emergency WA app. Correct. 148 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: All right, thanks Danny. 149 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 3: Great great advice. Danny, thank you very much for coming 150 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: in and let's hope we have a quiet of the 151 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 3: normal bushfire season.