Rural fire service announced for WA in wake of Yarloop blaze, funded by levy hike
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A specialist division will be set up within Western Australia's emergency services agency to deal with rural bushfires in the wake of the devastating 2016 Yarloop blaze.
The State Government has announced it will establish a rural fire arm within the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), with an increase in the emergency service levy set to fund the division.
The levy will rise by $28 for metropolitan landowners, while the increase in the regions will be between $8 and $17.
The creation of a dedicated rural fire agency was proposed by an independent review into the Yarloop blaze, which destroyed hundreds of properties in the South West town and killed two people.
The review, conducted by former Victorian country fire boss Euan Ferguson, had proposed either establishing that agency within DFES, as the Government has chosen, or creating a standalone entity.
Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan said the latter option was unfeasible due to its "horrendous" cost.
It is estimated the structural change needed to create the rural fire division within DFES will cost $80 million.
The Government will also establish an $18 million Bushfire Centre of Excellence, to enhance firefighting capabilities and put more money towards mitigation.
Topics: bushfire, fires, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, volunteers, perth-6000, wa
