Forecast of severe fire weather

A Harvest Vehicle Movement Ban (HVMB) has been issued for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River on:

Friday 4 February 2022, 9am to 5pm, this will be reviewed at 4pm to consider extending into the evening Saturday 5 February 2022, 9am to 5pm. this will be reviewed at 4pm to consider extending into the evening.

Shire of Nannup and City of Busselton have also issued HVMBs for their own local governments in line with the above times. Under a Harvest Vehicle Movement Ban all vehicular movement in paddocks and bush is banned, this includes smaller semi-rural land holdings, except for the preservation of stock. Shire Community Emergency Services Manager Adam Jasper said the HVMBs were in response to forecasts of extreme fire weather for the entire South West land division over the next two days. “There’s a collision of conditions that are causing a particularly high degree of fire risk for the next two days. “This is not something that is part of a normal summer pattern for the area. “The combination of weather and above normal dry fuel conditions is extremely unusual and loaded with potential danger. “Please be on high alert the next two days, review your bushfire plan, ensure your property is fire prepared and monitor ABC Radio and emergency.wa.gov.au.” Preparedness measures include:

Check your gutters are free of leaf litter. Check your fire pumps and generators. Remove flammable materials, such as door mats, from doors and windows. Ensure your vehicle has sufficient fuel if you need to use it in an emergency.

“Along the coast it will appear to be perfect beach weather, but over land the conditions are going to be precarious,” Mr Jasper said. “Our brigades are currently raising their already high level of preparedness in anticipation of any emergency call out. “If we get a fire in the next two days, it’s going to be extremely difficult to suppress.” The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has already issued a Total Fire Bans for tomorrow and it is expected this will apply to Saturday 5 February as well. Resident and visitors should stay informed by visiting www.emergency.wa.gov.au In the event of an emergency dial 000. The Shire of Augusta Margaret River will be maintaining regular contact with DFES, DBCA and surrounding Local Governments over the course of the next two days to maintain situational awareness around any incident that may start across the Lower South West.