Fire danger ratings tell us how dangerous a bushfire could be if one started, based on factors like the weather and the types of vegetation in the area.
From 1 September 2022, Western Australia will have a new fire danger rating system as part of a national project to ensure fire danger ratings are communicated the same way, no matter where you are in Australia.
The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) provides people with simple, action-oriented information to help them protect themselves and others from bushfire.
The AFDRS levels are:
- Moderate: Plan and prepare.
- Most fires can be controlled.
- Check your bushfire plan. If you do not have a plan, make one by visiting My Bushfire Plan (mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au).
- High: Be ready to act.
- Fires can be dangerous.
- Decide what you will do if a fire starts. Review your bushfire plan. If you do not have a plan, make one by visiting My Bushfire Plan
- Extreme: Take action now to protect your life and property.
- Fires will spread quickly and be extremely dangerous.
- Put your bushfire plan into action. If you do not have a plan, visit My Bushfire Plan to decide when you will leave and where you will go.
- If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, plan to leave early.
- Catastrophic: For your survival, leave bushfire risk areas.
- If a fire starts and takes hold, lives are likely to be lost.
- It may be too late to make a bushfire plan. Prepare your emergency kit and choose where you will go and different ways to get there.
- Stay safe by going to a safer location early in the morning or the night before.
The AFDRS will also introduce ‘no rating’ for days where bushfires are unlikely to spread in a dangerous or life-threatening way. On these days you still need to remain alert and abide by local seasonal laws and regulations.
Check the fire danger rating each day and monitor emergency.wa.gov.au for bushfire warnings.
Ensure your bushfire plan is adaptable for the different levels of fire danger.
Your plan might include triggers at a high fire danger rating.
Even if your property is very well prepared, homes cannot withstand fires in catastrophic conditions and it is too dangerous to stay.
For further information about preparing for bushfire go to dfes.wa.gov.au/bushfire.
To create or review your bushfire plan go to my bushfireplan.wa.gov.au or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
You can find your daily fire danger rating at:
Information on alerts and warnings.
