Find out about preparation and response to fires and emergencies. Information on smoke alarms, alerts and warnings, preparing your home, and volunteer emergency services is provided here.
For all alerts and warnings, including bushfires, visit Emergency WA.
For weather warnings, visit the Bureau of Meteorology or call National Weather Warnings on 1300 659 210.
When an emergency occurs, it's vital that you and your family are prepared to evacuate immediately, or have preparations in place to stay.
Make sure you're aware of all of the potential emergencies that may occur in the City of Kwinana. Take the time to sit with your family to decide what to do and prepare a plan.
Visit the Department of Fire and Emergency’s Fire Chat website to prepare your bushfire plan and remember, in the event of a bushfire you cannot rely on scheme water supply if you plan on staying and defending your property. Heat-damaged water infrastructure or power outage may results in a loss of supply. High demand will also lead to a drop in pressure and water supply tanks can empty quickly.
While leaving high-risk bushfire areas is the safest option, those planning to defend their home must have an independent water supply such as water tanks and pumping capability in the event of power loss.
Download the Natural disaster information sheet for advice of preparing for:
It’s also important to prepare for the safety of your animals and pets. Visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ website for animal welfare advice.
From 1 July 1997, the installation of mains powered smoke alarms became mandatory for all new residential buildings in WA.
Since 1 October 2009, mains powered smoke alarms must be fitted in all existing residential buildings, prior to the transfer of ownership, rent or hire.
For information about residential smoke alarms, visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services website.
For City of Kwinana building requirements, refer to our Building compliance and certification page.
The aim of the Kwinana local emergency management arrangements is to:
Download the Kwinana local emergency management arrangements.
When you arrive home:
Inspections of fire affected properties will be undertaken by the City's Bushfire Response team, comprising of a Community Development Officer, Environmental Health Officer, Building Surveyor and Planning Officer.
After a bushfire, please remember to be aware of the following potential risks:
Find out more about water tanks on your property.
Find out more about rainwater tanks after a bushfire.
For further information, please visit the Department of Health.
As soon as you can after a fire, contact your insurance company to report any damage or loss. They will need to send an assessor to your property to process your claim. Depending on their advice, you may be able to begin repairs and any rebuilding.
Otherwise, please contact City’s Building Services on 9439 0472 who will provide further advice on repairs, demolition and rebuilding.
Buildings built before 1988 may contain asbestos cement (sometimes called ‘AC’ or ‘ACM’) sheeting in walls, roofs, floor underlays, eaves, chimney flues or asbestos in vinyl floor tiles and backing to sheet linoleum. These materials are generally not a health risk unless they are cut, broken, drilled or crushed, which releases asbestos fibres into the air.
During a bushfire, the amount of asbestos fibres released into the air is likely to be low. After a bushfire, asbestos fibres can be disturbed by clean-up work.
If you suspect that your property could be heavily contaminated, for example asbestos in the soil, do not start clean-up until you have been told it is safe.
Please contact City’s Environmental Health Services on 9439 0475 to seek advice in relation to asbestos contamination. You may be required to engage a Worksafe licensed asbestos removalist.
Small unburned quantities (a few sheets or fragments) of broken or damaged asbestos cement material or debris under 10m2 should be:
Please ensure that you wear personal protective clothing before commencement of asbestos removal.
Further information regarding asbestos, please visit Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety and Department of Health.
CCA-treated wood is commonly used in structures such as pergolas, decking, fencing and landscaping. After a fire, the ash from this wood contains up to 10 per cent (by weight) arsenic, copper and chromium.
Swallowing only a few grams of this can be harmful. Children, pets and other animals must be kept away from these ash areas until clean-up is completed.
For any damages to your septic and effluent disposal system, please contact City’s Environmental Health Services on 9439 0475 to seek advice.
To report a damaged bin, please contact the City’s contractor SUEZ on 1300 293 955.
If you require a non-scheduled bin collection as a result of the fire incident (such as not being home to put the bin out or having additional food waste from power outage that does not fit in your bin) please contact City’s Waste Services on 9439 0401 to arrange an additional collection of your waste bin.
For disposal of building materials, household hazardous waste, demolition waste and asbestos, please contact the following disposal sites:
It’s likely that your gas, electricity and water have been shut off or disconnected during the fire. You will need to wait for the suppliers to send a qualified tradesperson to inspect and repair any damage, plus arrange for reconnection. If you are insured, your insurance company can organise this for you. If you are not, you will need to sort this out yourself. Make sure you get in touch with your utilities providers:
Find more advice on the websites listed below.
The City of Kwinana administers two bushfire brigades: Kwinana South and Mandogalup Volunteer Bushfire Brigades.
The bushfire brigades are responsible for:
Brigade members work closely with the City of Kwinana Emergency Services and City Assist Officers. They may also be called upon to assist the SES in emergency incidents, and adjoining local governments if required.
The Kwinana Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service:
The Rockingham Kwinana State Emergency Services (SES) unit services the areas of Rockingham and Kwinana.
The SES unit:
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer in emergency services? If so, call the DFES Recruitment Hotline (free call) on 1800 628 141.
If you find any injured or distressed wildlife as a result of the recent fires, please call the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 for further assistance, or Native Arc in Cockburn on 9417 7105.
The fires will have depleted native vegetation cover and food/water resources for our local wildlife. Here is some useful information on making your own wildlife drinking station.
For more information please contact the City Assist team on 9439 0200.