FAQ

Emergency WA displays weather information direct from the Bureau of Meteorology – including wind direction and speed, rain radar, and cyclone track maps. To turn on weather layers, use the Filter menu.

The information on this site is sourced from a number of agencies, including from the State and Federal Governments. This includes details of incidents reported by members of the public to authorities, and alerts and warnings from emergency agencies. List of agencies involved in Emergency WA.

Emergency WA provides a live feed of active incidents in addition to the alerts and warnings you may be familiar with. This feature provides more information to the public than ever before and means you can find out about an incident as soon as we do.

When an incident is reported to DFES, Emergency WA publishes basic information including the type and location of the incident. You may notice the response type listed in the incident pop-up box which shows how the indent is being responded to. These responses include:

• Dispatched
  Resources have been notified to attend the incident.
• Responding
  Resources are mobile and travelling to the incident.
• On-Scene
  Resources are at the incident.
• Monitoring
  Resources are monitoring the incident (this can be performed remotely in regional areas).

If the incident escalates to the level that lives and homes are potentially threatened, a community warning may be issued with more detailed safety information. Warnings will either be attached to the Incident, or appear nearby on the map and in the list view.

Remember emergencies can happen quickly and there may not always be time to issue a warning before life and property is under threat. It’s important to put your plan into action at the first sign of danger. Do not wait and see.

The Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions manage most Prescribed Burns in WA.

Prescribed Burns may be conducted to lower flammable fuel loads to reduce the risk, size and severity of bushfire or for nature conservation.

Active Prescribed Burns will be published on the Emergency WA website. If smoke affects you:

• It is recommended you shut doors and windows, and turn off air-conditioners.
• People with asthma and pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses should follow their pre-prepared treatment plan.
• People with conditions exacerbated by smoke should take precautions in line with their medical advice.

More information on Prescribed Burns can be found on the DBCA Parks and Wildlife Service website visit: www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/prescribed-burning/burns.

Burn offs can be conducted by Local Governments, State Government agencies, or members of the public.

When the manager of the Burn off reports it to DFES, in line with their permit requirements, it will be published on Emergency WA.

If smoke affects you:

• It is recommended you shut doors and windows, and turn off air-conditioners.
• People with asthma and pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses should follow their pre-prepared treatment plan.
• People with conditions exacerbated by smoke should take precautions in line with their medical advice.

Total Fire Bans are declared because of extreme weather conditions or when widespread fires are seriously stretching firefighting resources.

When a Total Fire Ban is declared it prohibits the lighting of any fires in the open air and any other activities that may start a fire.

For more information about Total Fire Bans, including what you can and can't do when one is declared, visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/totalfirebans

For current Total Fire Bans visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#totalfirebans

Fire Danger Ratings (FDRs) describe the potential level of danger should a bushfire start, based on factors like the weather and the types of vegetation in an area. They are issued daily and provide important information so you can take action to protect yourself and others from the potentially dangerous impacts of a bushfire. The higher the FDR, the more severe a bushfire is expected to be.

For more information about Fire Danger Ratings visit dfes.wa.gov.au/site/bushfire/prepare.html#fire-danger-ratings

For current Fire Danger Ratings visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#firedangerratings

You can find Total Fire Bans by clicking on the Filter button on Emergency WA and switching on the relevant map.

You can also:

• Follow this link to view Total Fire Bans: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#totalfirebans
• Access an RSS feed for Total Fire Bans at www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#about. Select the link under the RSS and CAP AU feeds menu item
• Click on the Total Fire Ban icon on Emergency WA that will take you directly to the Total Fire Ban map.

Click on the Australian Fire Danger Rating System icon on Emergency WA to see a map of all Western Australian fire weather districts, their associated Fire Danger Ratings and information about what action to take to stay safe.

When Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger ratings are forecast, a notice will appear within the Warnings section on the home page to raise awareness of heightened fire danger.

You can also follow these links to access the ratings for today:
www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#firedangerratings

To access an RSS feed for Fire Danger Ratings, visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#about and select the link under the RSS and CAP AU feeds menu item.

The Australian Warning System (AWS) is a nationally consistent approach to warnings for natural hazards including bushfire, flood, storm, cyclone, severe weather and extreme heat. The AWS is being implemented in Western Australia in a phased approach, starting with changes to bushfire warnings. Watch this video to find out what changes have already been made for bushfire, and what to expect as DFES continues to achieve national consistency.

A heatwave occurs when the maximum and the minimum temperatures are unusually hot over a three-day period at a particular location.

Heatwave warnings include the locations that are affected, the actions you should take to keep safe and other details to help you stay informed during extended periods of high temperatures.

The three warning levels are:

Advice:
A severe heatwave is forecast in the coming days. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.

Watch and Act:
A severe heatwave is occurring. There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to take action now to protect yourself and your family.

Emergency Warning:
An extreme heatwave is occurring. Heatwave impacts are increasing. You need to take action immediately to protect yourself and your family.

For more information on heatwaves and how you can plan ahead for the heat visit Healthy WA.

Follow the instructions in the ServiceWA app to accept permissions and allow ServiceWA to use your location. Visit wa.gov.au for more information.

• By enabling this service, you will receive a push notification if a bushfire warning has been issued in your location.
• The notification will take you Emergency WA for detailed information about the bushfire to help you stay safe.
• Remember: Never wait for a warning to act. Bushfires are unpredictable so be aware of your surroundings and act early to stay safe.
• If you don’t have a bushfire plan, make one today by visiting My Bushfire Plan.

ServiceWA provides push notifications for bushfire warnings only. Stay up to date with warnings across all hazards by visiting Emergency WA.

Contact the ServiceWA app support team on 13 33 92 (13 33 WA) or email support@digital.wa.gov.au.

Preparing for and responding to emergencies is a shared responsibility between the Government, community and individuals. Getting prepared for emergencies is one of the best ways that you can get involved.

The agency with oversight of an emergency from a State Government perspective is called the Hazard Management Agency. Many other government agencies may be involved to help provide their specialist expertise.

For more information about the management of emergencies refer to the State Emergency Management Committee at www.semc.wa.gov.au

Emergencies can strike at any moment, and there may not always be enough time to issue a warning before life or property is under threat.

It is important to seek information from a variety of sources and be prepared to take action to keep yourself safe. If in any doubt, take action straight away.

For more ways to find emergency information visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#getinformed

You need to act immediately to give yourself, your family and property the best chance of survival.

Put your own survival plan into action, and follow the directions of emergency services. Keep yourself up to date with the latest information by visiting Emergency WA, phoning 13 DFES (13 33 37) listening to ABC or 6PR radio or following DFES on Facebook or Twitter.

Stay aware of your surroundings and keep in touch with neighbours, family and friends.

For more information about making a survival plan and preparing for emergencies visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au/prepare

It is your responsibility to take action during an emergency. Stay aware of your surroundings and follow advice from emergency services.

If your area is prone to natural hazards, or you are travelling through high-risk areas you need to be prepared and be ready to act.

To ensure you are prepared for an emergency visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au/prepare

DFES does not currently have its own smartphone app.

Official emergency information is available through the following channels:

• Emergency WA website
• Local ABC radio; or 6PR (in the metropolitan area)
• 13 DFES (13 33 37)
• DFES Facebook and Twitter pages

You can sign up to receive bushfire warning notifications for your location through the ServiceWA app. Download the ServiceWA app and follow the prompts. Visit wa.gov.au for more information. If you haven’t already done so, create a Bushfire Plan today.

• To sign up for bushfire warning notifications through the ServiceWA app, simply download the ServiceWA app and follow the prompts or watch this video on setting up Emergency WA bushfire warning notifications. Visit wa.gov.au for more information.
• Sign up to receive an RSS feed on your device. Visit https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/#about and select the correct link for your region under RSS and CAP AU feeds menu item.
• Your Local Government or other providers may also have emergency notification systems in your local area.

In an emergency you may receive an Emergency Alert telephone warning voice message to your landline or text message to your mobile phone if you are in a defined area under immediate threat. You cannot sign up to receive an Emergency Alert but you should ensure your address and personal details are up to date with your telecommunications provider. It’s important not to rely on receiving a telephone warning or using it as your evacuation trigger because there may not always be time to issue one. Find out more about Emergency Alert.

If you haven’t already done so, create a Bushfire Plan today.

It’s best to try to contact them directly, or indirectly using friends, neighbours, or colleagues. If you have serious concerns for someone’s safety and welfare, call WA Police.

During major incidents the Red Cross may set up the Register.Find.Reunite hotline. Information about the hotline will be included in the relevant warnings on Emergency WA.

It is understandable that you may be anxious to find out what's happening.

The first priority of emergency responders is to protect life and property at the scene of the incident, so it's important to be patient and let them do their jobs.

They will be doing all they can to reduce the risk to your property and the people in the area.

During an emergency, even after the immediate threat has passed, there will be other hazards such as burnt or fallen trees, loose debris and damage to roads and infrastructure.

Residents will be allowed to return once the agencies in charge are confident the area is safe.

Ensure you sure you let your family and friends know you are safe in the meantime, as they may be looking for you.

Generally, donations of food or goods are not necessary and cannot be stored or distributed during the emergency response.

During major emergencies the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund may be activated to coordinate financial donations. More information is available at www.appealswa.org.au

Emergency WA works best on the latest version of Google Chrome however Apple Safari and Microsoft Edge are also supported.

The map on Emergency WA is provided by Google and is the same map available in Google Maps. If you notice a map error, please contact your Local Government Authority. They will assess the error and submit the change directly with Google. Local Governments are the authoritative source for location information.

First, make sure you are not in any immediate danger. Act for your own safety and move to a safer location if necessary.

Call 000 to report the incident to the relevant authority.

If the error is an incorrect place name, road closure information or other inaccuracy in the information provided, then please contact the agency that has issued the warning to let them know. The name of this agency will appear within the warning.

You can email us at: emergencywa@dfes.wa.gov.au

Please note this inbox is monitored during business hours only and should not be used for emergency purposes. Due to the volume of enquiries received we can't respond to each one. However, your feedback is important to us and will help us to plan future improvements to this site.

To report a life threatening emergency, please call 000. For information about a current incident, please check the warnings page or call 13 DFES.