Bushfires are inevitable in the fire-prone landscapes of Western Australia. Long dry summers, flammable vegetation and ignition from lightning or human causes mean that bushfires occur every summer.
A bushfire is an unplanned fire (also referred to as a wildfire). Each year Parks and Wildlife Service responds to more than 600 bushfires that occur on or near land managed by the department. Bushfires have many causes, some natural such as lightning and some as a result of human activity such as camp fires, escapes from prescribed burning operations, industrial activity such as timber harvesting, mining, farming and power transmission, and some from deliberate arson.
Managing bushfires is a shared responsibility. The department works closely with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), local government authorities and volunteer bushfire brigades. Sharing the responsibility enables better management of bushfires across all tenures and access to a wealth of knowledge and expertise from a broad range of backgrounds.
For more information about fire prevention and safety visit the DFES website.
