• Prescribed burning targeting national parks and State forest across the South-West
• The mitigation program protects lives and property from summer bushfires 

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is using favourable spring conditions to undertake prescribed burning in areas surrounding Perth and across the South-West.

Prescribed burning is highly dependent on suitable weather conditions, fuel moisture and a range of other factors to be undertaken safely.

A mix of larger burns in forest areas and smaller burns, closer to communities and townsites, during spring significantly reduces the threat and severity of bushfires and helps protect lives, infrastructure and biodiversity.

In April, the McGowan Government committed $22 million to the Enhanced Prescribed Burning Program for the next four years, which is in addition to the department's annual prescribed burning budget allocation of $11 million for the State's South-West.

Research shows that prescribed burning is effective in reducing the frequency and size of bushfires in the forests of South-West Western Australia when at least 45 per cent of the landscape has a fuel age of less than six years since last burnt.

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:

"The McGowan Government is protecting the Western Australian community from the damaging impacts of bushfires using a collaborative approach between government agencies, local government authorities and industry.

"Our shared objective is to deliver the best possible community safety and biodiversity outcomes and I thank the community for their patience and understanding during this time.

"While every effort is made to minimise smoke impacts, people with conditions exacerbated by smoke should take precautions in line with their medical advice."