The updated Emergency WA website now features new bushfire warning colours of yellow for Advice and orange for Watch and Act, while Emergency Warnings will remain red.
The new colour scheme, introduced on the eve of the State’s main bushfire season, brings Western Australia into line with other States and Territories using the Australian Warning System (AWS).
Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Services, Darren Klemm said the changes were the first step in the State’s adoption of the AWS, which delivered nationally consistent emergency information to help the public recognise and understand warnings no matter where they were in Australia.
“The AWS was developed based on community consultation and research conducted across the country and is being implemented in all States and Territories,” Commissioner Klemm said.
“By adopting a nationally consistent approach, we can make it easier for people to understand how to act when disaster strikes — whether they’re at home in WA or travelling interstate.”
Commissioner Klemm said with summer approaching, now was the time for people to start familiarising themselves with the bushfire warning system and make a bushfire plan.
“As well as new bushfire warning colours, Emergency WA will show warnings in an ‘accordion’ format, making it easier for people to quickly locate information relevant to them such as road closures and evacuation centres,” he said.
“These changes are the latest in a suite of improvements based on community feedback, including the recent addition of visual weather information layers,” Commissioner Klemm said.
