To report a wildfire that is burning on land managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation telephone the nearest Departmental of Environment and Conservation District office . You will hear a recorded message that will provide the phone number of the District Fire Duty Officer.

To report fires burning on any other land telephone

  and follow the telephone prompts.

Wildfires are inevitable in the fire prone landscapes of Western Australia.  Long dry summers, flammable vegetation and ignition from lightning or human causes ensure that wildfires will occur every summer.

A wildfire is an unplanned fire and is also known as a bushfire.  Wildfires have many causes, some natural such as lighting and some as a result of human activity such as camp fires, escapes from planned burning operations, industrial activity such as timber harvesting, mining, farming and power transmission and some from deliberate arson.  Every year the Department of Environment and Conservation is involved in over 500 wildfire incidents.

Wildfire Suppression with Machinery

The Department of Environment and Conservation is responsible for the suppression of wildfires on the land entrusted to its management.  The Department of Environment and Conservation also supports Bush Fire Brigades and the community on a ‘good neighbour basis’ with wildfires that occur near to or threatening this land.

The Department of Environment and Conservation's policy on Fire Management states that:

• Fire fighter and public safety is the first priority in every fire management activity and,
• The Department of Environment and Conservation will respond to fires occurring on or near departmental managed lands to the degree that is appropriate to the values at risk, the prevailing and forecast weather, the available fire fighting resources, the cost of the fire suppression operations, and the likelihood of impacts to the environment and the community.
• The Department of Environment and Conservation will take control or provide assistance at fires in accordance with State and local arrangements between the Department of Environment and Conservation and other authorities and other agencies.

An effective and coordinated approach to wildfire suppression and fire protection planning requires close liaison and working arrangements with other emergency and support services.  The Department of Environment and Conservation maintains close liaison with the Forest Products Commission, the Local Government Authorities and their bushfire brigades, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) and the State, District and Local Emergency Management Committees.

The Department of Environment and Conservation is the designated Hazard Management Agency (HMA) for the management of fire on all de