THE state’s aerial firefighting fleet has received an additional $10.1 million in state government funding to help keep Western Australians safe ahead of what is expected to be another challenging bushfire season.

Two additional Black Hawk helicopters will be brought on to the state aerial firefighting fleet to provide rapid response to bushfires across WA, as part of the state’s biggest ever aerial firefighting fleet of ex-military aircraft.

The helicopters, which can hold up to 4500 litres of water each, will be online for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons and based in strategic locations to the north and south of the metropolitan region.

Premier Roger Cook and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson made the announcement last week while visiting the site of the new Cardup Career Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) Station, which is on track to be completed in December this year.

The $14.5m facility fulfils a major Labor government election commitment to future-proof demand for emergency services in Perth’s rapidly growing south-east corridor.

The station will receive three state-of-the-art appliances and be crewed by 36 firefighters, part of a multimillion-dollar investment in career personnel.

It comes as the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) launched its annual bushfire safety campaign, highlighting that it takes just 15 minutes to make a plan which could save your property or your life.

This year’s campaign is being launched more than a month early due to an increased risk of bushfires.

More than 93 per cent of WA is bushfire-prone, yet only 1.95 per cent of households have a recorded plan.

Prolonged periods of dryness have left a large amount of mature fuel throughout WA, which is why Western Australians are being urged to get ready for what could prove to be an extremely challenging season.

The My Bushfire Plan app and website helps users make the critical choice of leaving early or staying to defend and has important prompts including what to do with pets and what is needed if you have to evacuate.

Visit www.mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au or download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Premier Roger Cook said his government was stepping up to invest in the best facilities, equipment and resources possible, as well as more firefighters to help keep Western Australians safe from the growing risk of bushfires.

“We’ve acted early ahead of a potentially tough season to secure two extra Black Hawks, which will provide invaluable support for firefighters on the ground as they work to protect lives and homes,” Mr Cook said.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said his dedicated emergency services personnel are getting ready for summer – now it’s time for all Western Australians to play their part and spend 15 minutes creating a bushfire plan.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said the 2023-24 bushfire season was longer and more intense than experienced in recent years which should serve as a wake-up call to the community.

“The first emergency-level bushfire arrived much earlier than usual, in October 2023, and over the seven months that followed firefighters battled 5088 bushfires – 1000 more than the previous season,” he said.

“But the reality is firefighters can’t be at every home during an emergency, so it's important that people sit down with their family now, complete a bushfire plan and agree on a course of action to keep them safe using the My Bushfire Plan app or website.”

Visit www.mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au or download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play.