Fire assessments provide safety boost

Rural property owners and their fire emergency services have taken a hands-on look at possible improved safety measures.

Emergency services volunteers from Ringbark and Yanmah bushfire brigades, Manjimup SES and Manjimup Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service gathered at Woodgate Retreat on Saturday to assess the safety levels of the street’s properties.

As part of the exercise, volunteers were led through what made individual properties dangerous or helpful in case of a bushfire and what improvements could be made to improve safety.

Manjimup Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service captain Sharon Armstrong was one of the Saturday event’s organisers.

“The volunteers did a walk-around and shared information and knowledge,” she said.

“They had a few property owners’ permission to go onto their land and do the assessments.

“Once all the information was collected, they came back and, through consensus, put together a map.” Capt. Armstong said the information collected was based on Saturday’s weather and a fire’s behaviour could change depending on the weather on the day of a potential incident.

“Department of Fire and Emergency Services will be sending letters to the premises which were evaluated with suggestions and offering solutions on how to improve fire safety,” she said.

“It was quite a good day, we’d like to do more.”