A FLEET of specialised aircraft has been activated early to help protect growers and Western Australia’s multibillion-dollar grain harvest as the fire risk increases.

A strike team of two fixed-wing waterbombers and an air attack supervisor are now based in Narrogin, ready to respond to fast-moving crop fires in the Wheatbelt.

The waterbombers can reach speeds up to 350kmh, drop up to 3150L of water, foam, or retardant and require just minutes to refuel and reload.

During the 2025/26 season, the grain harvest aerial fleet attended 34 incidents and flew nearly 142 hours with crews assisting at major fires in Warradarge, Geraldton, Mindarabin, and West River.

The fleet is part of the state government’s commitment to bolstering emergency preparedness and response across remote and regional communities.

It is managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) with support from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said during the 2025/26 season, DFES responded to some particularly dangerous harvest fires which reached emergency warning level, threatening lives and property.

“Crop fires are commonly sparked by machinery or lightning and can spread extremely quickly, so it is vital we provide a rapid and effective firefighting response.

“These aircraft can be on the scene of a fire quickly and will be repositioned across key grain-growing regions throughout the harvest period based on the most up-to-date risk assessments.”

As the weather heats up, rural property owners are urged to create an emergency plan that includes their family and employees using the Emergency WA app or website and stay up to date with the latest warnings and alerts.

Visit the site via www.emergency.wa.gov.au