The Emergency WA website has received an upgrade in preparation for the bushfire and cyclone seasons.
The updates to emergency.wa.gov.au, managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, follow community feedback, which wanted the website to provide more information and increased functionality.
Commissioner for Fire and Emergency Services, Darren Klemm (pictured) said communities impacted by bushfires would now be able to access an Incident Area for selected fires, showing the estimated location of the hazard.
“The Incident Area is depicted on the map as a hatched shape alongside the existing warning areas,” Commissioner Klemm said.
“The inclusion of the Incident Area will help people make informed decisions to respond to emergencies.”
He said the Incident Area was an indication of where the fire had been and gave the public a greater understanding of what was going on during significant bushfires.
“It is informed by on-the-ground and aerial intelligence. However, emergencies can escalate quickly, so always follow the advice in official warnings and never solely rely on the Incident Area when making decisions in an emergency,” Commissioner Klemm said.
He said among other recent upgrades to Emergency WA was the customisation of the platform to include future WA Health-issued community COVID-19 alerts and warnings.
“Emergency WA is the official source of emergency information for all Western Australians, no matter where they live and what hazards they face,” the Commissioner said.
