Wallcliffe Volunteer Fire Brigade in Margaret River, Western Australia | Public & government service

Wallcliffe Volunteer Fire Brigade

Locality: Margaret River, Western Australia

Address: 555 Wallcliffe Road near Caves Road 6285 Margaret River, WA, Australia

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24.01.2022 Well that was quite the start to a cold and wet day with a Excavator fire on Sheridan Drive. This is our second call out to an excavator fire in recent months. And a good example of why vehicle insurance is so important. These things tend to burst into flames in a matter of minutes. And usually not much to save by the time we get there. Thankfully these guys were insured, but it's still a massive kick in the guts to loose a hardworking machine from the fleet. ... Today was also a lesson in vehicle recovery in a quagmire . We managed to bog the 3.4 Red , the 3.4 White, the 2.4 White and a Light Tanker . We're not sure who has to buy the cartons on this many boggings but we do suggest the Margaret River Brewhouse better start brewing some more beer .

21.01.2022 HEADS UP! We've received advice from DBCA they will be conducting a prescribed burn in the South Carters Rd area today and tomorrow (22/23 November 2020). Following a rain delay earlier in the week, the weather conditions have been measured as ideal for undertaking the fuel reduction works today. Mountain Bike trails in South Carters (the Creek Trails) and 1 lane of Carter's road will be closed and there will be smoke visible to the north of Margaret River townsite. ... This is important work to help reduce the significant fire risk that surrounds the townsite and we thank all the fire crew that will be undertaking this work over the weekend . These prescribed burns form part of a larger mosaic of burning that has been undertaken by DBCA, AMR Volunteer Brigades and DFES in recent years in helping protect our community from summer bushfires. When you see the smoke it's a good opportunity to reflect about how much bush and fire risk that surrounds town and a reminder about your individual responsibility for preparing your own property and ensuring you have a Bushfire Plan; even the people in the middle of town .

21.01.2022 We heard the thumping drone of the RAC/DFES Rescue Chopper flying overhead Wallcliffe station on Friday evening and heading out over the ocean. It's very mixed feelings when you see and hear the big canary in the sky . That sinking feeling knowing someone is in trouble, followed by more positive thoughts knowing highly trained professional help in on the way . We watched this one unfold on the flight tracker radar app, with the Challenger fixed wing aircraft also flying ...top cover, and we were hoping it wasn't a sea search as night time approached. So good to see the outcome via this footage . Well done to everyone involved and big thanks to all the crew from the Bunbury based RAC/DFES Rescue Helicopter that regularly attend incidents throughout the South West.

20.01.2022 Double thumbs to our dedicated volunteers that turned up for training on a very wet and windy Fathers Day Indoor activities were the order of the day, with refreshers in breathing masks, first aid and crew protection systems.

20.01.2022 Heads up, we have another strong cold front forecast to hit the region tonight (Saturday 15th August 2020). A deep low pressure system will move over parts between Margaret River and Albany Sunday morning . During Saturday evening in western parts of the warning area between Mandurah and Windy Harbour DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour are possible and could cause DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY. ... DAMAGING WINDS are expected to extend throughout the warning area early Sunday morning, and then contract to eastern parts of the warning areas late Sunday morning. Conditions are expected to ease by Sunday afternoon. Take precautions around your home today and maybe don't park the car under a big tree tonight .

20.01.2022 Great evening of inter-brigade training with Margaret River Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service and Wallcliffe Volunteer Fire Brigade last night . Hosted by DFES, it was a great opportunity for the two brigades to work together in structural firefighting techniques. Last nights mock scenario was training for a signifiant fire event requiring two stage breathing apparatus teams in multi entry. Big thanks to our local TAFE campus for allowing us to use the winemaking facility a...s a training facility for this important exercise. And thanks also to Area Officers Andy and Mark and District Officers Nathan and Pete from DFES for hosting the training and sharing their extensive firefighting knowledge .

20.01.2022 Just a heads up there is an ideal weather window for DBCA to conduct a prescribed burn in the South Carters Rd area this weekend (21/22 November 2020). Mountain Bike trails in South Carters (the Creek Trails) and 1 lane of Carter's road will be closed and there will be smoke visible to the north of Margaret River townsite. This is important work to help reduce the significant fire risk that surrounds the townsite and we thank all the fire crew that will be undertaking this ...work over the weekend . These fuel reduction works form part of a larger mosaic of burning that has been undertaken by DBCA, AMR Volunteer Brigades and DFES in recent years in helping protect our community from summer bushfires. When you see the smoke it's a good opportunity to reflect about how much bush and fire risk that surrounds town and a reminder about your individual responsibility for preparing your own property and ensuring you have a Bushfire Plan; even the people in the middle of town .

19.01.2022 Heads up. We've got another cold front hitting the region thisarvo . Showers and thunderstorms associated with the front may produce DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gust HOMES AND PROPERTY. DAMAGING WINDS are expected to develop about the Southwest Capes around 3:00pm Monday afternoon and extend eastward Williams to Walpole by 8:00pm Monday evening.

19.01.2022 Septembers’ Bushfire Preparedness Topic is: PROPERTY PREPAREDNESS Bushfires don't wait until summer starts, and they won't wait for you to be prepared! Most houses are damaged or lost in bushfires due to ember attack this is where burning embers carried by strong winds land in gaps or on material that easily burns, such as vegetation close to the home.... There are actions you can take immediately that will help protect you and your property from bushfire: * Keep the grass mowed and gutters clean * Keep gas cylinders away from likely direction of fire (i.e. where bush is) and turn release valves outwards, away from the house * Remove wood, mulch or any flammable material against or near the house * Create a minimum two metre gap between your house and tree branches * Install metal fly wire mesh on all windows, vents and install a protective screen on evaporative air conditioner * Block any gaps under floor, in the roof spaces, under eaves, external vents, skylights, chimneys and wall claddings * Install a fire or heat radiant shield such as a solid fence * Prune the dead material from shrubs and trees within at least a 20 metre radius of your home. * Install firebreaks in accordance with your local fire break notice. If you live in or near bushland, you need to prepare your home for a bushfire, even if your plan is to leave when a bushfire threatens. Access the following tools and resources to help you prepare your property for the upcoming bushfire season: DFES’ FireChat Bushfire Planning website DFES’ Homeowners Bushfire Survival Manual DFES’ Planned Burning resources Visit your Local Government Website or refer to your local Fire Break & Hazard Reduction Notice For further bushfire preparedness information please visit dfes.wa.gov.au

18.01.2022 This bloke is not going to enjoy the attention . But we gotta share the news another one of our Wallcliffe volunteers, Bob Baker, has been awarded a DFES Certificate of Distinction for his remarkable efforts in the devastating Waroona/Yarloop fires in 2016. At the time of the incident there was so many stories of loss and tragedy that a lot of the heroic stories from the fire-ground never made it into public knowledge. ... These awards, presented several years after the incident, have provided an opportunity for our members to talk about their experiences deployed as Volunteers from the Lower South West Taskforce. Bob took the opportunity this evening to share his experiences. Even some of our long serving members that have seen more than a few big fires, have been astounded to hear the previously untold stories of how intense the fire activity was as the volunteers worked to save the Wagerup Alumina Refinery. In Bob's own words "it was one of the incidents where you worked as a team and know you helped make a difference". Anyone that knows Bob, would know he's one of the most humble blokes you'll ever meet. When he says they 'helped make a difference', it actually means they were smack bang in the middle of a major fire fight and helped save significant infrastructure that employs hundreds of people. Great work Bob and great recognition of the 2016 South West Taskforce

16.01.2022 Looking for a Father Day gift idea? Help Dad clean and clear around block and fire up the burn pile before bushfire season. There is unusually high amounts of tree debris from the winter storms this year that needs to be urgently reduced around bush properties before the surrounding bush starts drying out.... Every Dad loves a burnpile. Help him build and burn one down this Father Day weekend!

14.01.2022 Heads up! Wallcliffe Volunteers will be conducting a small Hazard Reduction burn on Wallcliffe Rd near the Prevelly area this afternoon (18th September 2020) Test burns yesterday indicated we had ideal burning conditions prior to rain forecast tonight. This is important fuel reduction work being undertaken by a private property owner with the assistance on Wallcliffe Brigade volunteers. ... Expect to see smoke in the area, but you can rest assured the burn is small and well controlled by multiple crew and trucks .

14.01.2022 Mesmerising? Or terrifying?? This is a small pile of Marri tree leaves and branches that fell around a house in recent winter storms and being burned before bushfire season. It’s a stark visual reminder of the fuel that’s out there and needs to be managed around your building protection zone. ... Imagine that lot going up in the middle of a summer busfire . August is one of the best months of the year to be cleaning and clearing your property before the bush starts drying out .

13.01.2022 It's probably a bit hard to get your head around thinking about Buhsfire season when it's raining outside, but this is one of the best times of year to be preparing your property for the coming season. Bushfires season is getting longer and longer . They can start suddenly and without warning. Whether you live in a built up area near parks, reserves or grasslands; an area surrounded by coastal scrub; or on a rural farm or bushland property, it is important to understand your... local bushfire risk and plan what you’ll do to keep safe when a bushfire threatens your home. REMEMBER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE BUSH TO BE AT RISK FROM BUSHFIRES. EMBERS CAN TRAVEL FAR, BRINGING THE FIRE FROM THE BUSH TO YOUR HOME. This is particularly true if you live in the bushfire prone localities of Prevelly, Gnarabup, Gracetown, Augusta and Margaret River. All these areas are surrounded by bush that threaten ember attack. Embers are pieces of burning bark, leaves or twigs carried away from fires by wind. Embers can travel for kilometres, starting spot fires well ahead of the fire-front, often without warning. Embers can land on and around your home in places like your rooftop air-conditioner, your garden, under eaves, in gutters and on wooden decks. If embers are not extinguished, your house could catch fire. Your best chance of surviving a bushfire is to create a plan of what you’d do if one was to come your way. Will you BE SAFE AND LEAVE EARLY or BE PREPARED TO STAY AND DEFEND? You may find the following resources useful for understanding your bushfire risk, developing a bushfire survival plan or learning how to prepare your household and property DFES’ Am I at risk from Bushfire Fact Sheet DFES FireChat Resource For further information visit dfes.wa.gov.au

11.01.2022 If you live in a bushfire risk area, you need to understand the Bushfire Warning Systems before a fire threatens your home. The alerts give information on how severe a bushfire is once it's started. Alerts have four warning levels indicating the increasing risk to your life or property, and the decreasing amount of time you have until the fire arrives. The following tools and resources can help you to understand the four levels of warnings: DFES' Bushfire Warning System Facts...heet DFES' Alerts and Warnings Youtube Video When a bushfire threatens, you can monitor official warnings at www.emergency.wa.gov.au By calling DFES' Information Line on 13DFES (13 3337) Local ABC ra Remember: Your surroundings could be your best information source. Stay alert to what is happening around you. If you believe you may be in danger, act immediately to stay safe. For further bushfire information please visit dfes.wa.gov.au

09.01.2022 This is the type of early Spring scene that puts a big smile on our brigade dial . Bob and Barbara from Kilcarnup have been collecting the winter debris from around their block and burning on these cool spring days. It's a super simple task and safe for them to undertake following heavy rain. ... Removing these flash fuels from around their house should make a huge difference to the fire intensity should they be impacted by bushfire this coming fire season. Three surrounding properties have undertaken similar fuel reduction works and it's a great example of neighbours working together to reduce their bushfire risk. We'd love to see and hear about more examples of this type of neighbourly fuel reduction work if you have similar examples in your street .

09.01.2022 ** UPDATE ** 3-year-old missing boy James has been located in bushland alive by a family member who was assisting with the land search operation. Given the tim...e he has spent exposed to the rough terrain and poor weather conditions, arrangements will be made for him to have a medical check-up as a precaution. WA Police Force thanks all the emergency service volunteers and community members who assisted with the search. Original Post: Police are searching for a missing 3-year-old boy James in the area around Karli Rise, Yallingup. James was last seen about 7:30am today, Saturday 19 September 2020. James is described as fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes. He is wearing white ‘Spiderman’ pyjamas. It is believed James is also wearing wellington boots. Anyone who sees James is asked to remain with him and call Police immediately on 000. While some search resources will scale down overnight, Police will remain in the search area and continue to conduct patrols and search for James. If James is not located by tonight, the full search operation will continue tomorrow. Important message from Police in relation to locals residents attending the search area: - Thank you to everyone who has attended the search area. The response has been significant. - It is important members of the public do not venture into the bushland areas as they may inadvertently compromise evidence of where James has walked, and that could impact on the ability of trained searchers to track his movements. - Anyone who is in the area already is asked to stick to the main tracks and roads. - At this time there is no need for further members of the public to attend the location. - For those people who are already on site it is important they register their attendance at the Incident Command Post which is located at the DFES SES building on Caves Road. Post last updated at 7:20pm 19/09/2020.

09.01.2022 Here’s a face we usually keep on the other side of the camera. Last night, Sean Blocksidge was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Kenwick. The award recognises exemplary work in community service. As well as a volunteer bush firefighter, Sean manages Wallcliffe’s social media account, and tries to get the community thinking about fire prevention. He’s usually the one taking the fire photos, calling illegal fire-starters ‘muppets’ and giving not-so-gentle... reminders about fire season. By day Sean is a tour operator - like everyone at Wallcliffe Brigade he is a volunteer and his commitment to Wallcliffe is carried out in his spare time. The award was made possible by much-loved Wallcliffe Brigade volunteer, Fred Morrison, who passed away in 2014. Fred was a man committed to community service. As well as a Wallcliffe life member, he was also a dedicated Rotarian, and with his wife Joy, made a significant bequest to the Rotary Club Foundation that has funded polio prevention in third world countries. Rotarians have a tradition of supporting the Rotary Foundation and Sean joins a worldwide club of Paul Harris fellows including other outstanding community members from our district. Congratulations Sean, thank you for your volunteering contribution and helping make a difference to our communities preparedness for bushfire.

09.01.2022 We love this Bushfire preparedness post from Beautifully Mad band in Bermagui in NSW. They survived the devastating 2020 fires, while many of their neighbouring communities were not so lucky. And they've learned a few valuable lessons in preparing for bushfires after watching so many friends lose memories and valuables as their homes burned down This is a great idea to walk around your house to film and photograph all your valuables and records. Store the data in the cl...oud or thumbdrive at a separate location. It'll be an incredibly useful tool in making an insurance claim or a digital record to help re-create family photos if your house burns down. It's also a very powerful way of realising what's important to you and great start to your bushfire planning. Don't put this one on the 'to do' list. Tomorrow could be too late. Get it done today . Even just a five minute walk through the house with the video rolling will help create a record you can work from. Easy peasy.

09.01.2022 He's humble and a bit camera shy. But we couldn't let this accolade pass without some acknowledgement. Congratulations Mick Whitelaw on being awarded a Certificate of Distinction from DFES for his efforts at the devastating Waroona/Yarloop fires in 2016. Mick was part of Lower South West taskforce that deployed as strike teams into some of the most intense areas of fire behaviour in one of WA's worst fires in recent history.... Surrounded by fire and burning pipelines he worked with a crew that helped save the critical infrastructure at the Wagerup Alumina Refinery. Mick's previous years of experience as a Fire Operations Officer at DPAW and current professional role as a Bushfire Risk Manager in private enterprise means he brings a huge amount of experience and knowledge and safety to emergency situations . You couldn't ask for a better bloke to be teamed with when heading into a firefight and the Wallcliffe vollies are proud to see his efforts acknowledged. Love ya work Mick .

07.01.2022 Best news of the day . Well done to everyone involved, including members from Wallcliffe brigade that assisted with operations.

07.01.2022 Wallcliffe never quite doing things by halves . Lets have a mid-winter campfire and catchup they said. Next minute .... In all seriousness, this is the best time of year to be cranking through your burn piles and cleaning and clearing all the debris around your property from the recent storms. Light em up and get it done .

05.01.2022 Another great turnout from our Structural Fire Fighting volunteers for training this week. Big thanks to DFES Area Officer Mark Norris for sharing his knowledge and expertise on Breathing Apparatus Procedures .

05.01.2022 KEEPING INFORMED DURING A BUSHFIRE Bushfires happen every year; they can start suddenly and without warning. If you live in or near bushland you need to understand your bushfire risk, and know where to source information when a bushfire threatens. During a bushfire, emergency services will provide you as much information as possible through a number of different methods. HOWEVER, YOUR SURROUNDINGS COULD BE YOUR BEST INFORMATION SOURCE. STAY ALERT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND Y...OU. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU MAY BE IN DANGER, ACT IMMEDIATELY TO STAY SAFE. It is important that you Get Connected connected communities are safer communities Stay Alert - if you can see or smell a bushfire that’s your warning Understand the four levels of the BUSHFIRE WARNING SYSTEM Monitor Official Warnings The following resources are designed to be help you better understand the four levels of the BUSHFIRE WARNING SYSTEM and know where to source information from during a bushfire. www.emergency.wa.gov.au DFES’ How Do I keep Informed? Factsheet DFES’ Bushfire Warning System Factsheet For further information visit dfes.wa.gov.au

04.01.2022 Well done and big double thumbs thanks to the DBCA crew that worked on the South Carters Rd fuel reduction burn today . It was a precision low intensity burn in near perfect conditions, following a wet start to November. This area has not been burnt since 2008 and forms a significant fire risk that could directly impact Margaret River townsite during a summer bushfire. It’s a major win for the region to have finally achieved this fuel reduction. ... It was also great to see and hear so many surrounding home owners making the effort to thank fire crews for undertaking this hot, dirty and smoky work. Anyone that lives near such an enormous potential firebomb can appreciate how much better it is to reduce the fuel now instead of waiting for a fire disaster. Property owners talked of previous fires in this bush where flames were crowning 20 metres above the tree line! The window of opportunity to get this work done is getting shorter and shorter every year and it’s a credit to the DBCA fire management team for having prioritised this burn for the Margaret River community and dedicated so many personnel and resources to the job. The main burn and edging works were achieved today. However this is a complex burn that needs multiple ignitions over coming days to help preserve biodiversity and reduce the fuels in a variety of different forest types including Karri and Jarrah, so you can expect to see and smell smoke for the next week or so. DBCA will have a long-term commitment to complete, patrol and mop up into coming weeks so they will be out there for a while longer yet. We reckon they’ve earned a wave or a thumbs up as a show of appreciation when you drive by .

03.01.2022 Choose your own adventure on a cold wet winter night in Margaret River ..... Option A - Warm cosy log fire at home, glass of Cabernet and watch the footy. Option B - Get bogged, get wet and practice vehicle recovery exercises in the sandunes.... Yeah we know we can be a bit odd sometimes . But we hope this sort of training prepares our volunteers for the real experience of getting bogged on the Gnarabup ridge in the middle of bushfire .

01.01.2022 Great night of training doing Burnover drills in the new 3.4 truck. This is an important session in our annual training calendar as we head toward the bushfire season. The new truck is outfitted with a state of the art deluge protection system, rebreather apparatus, window protection, fire blankets, radio communications and emergency GPS locator. ... But all that safety equipment is not much chop in a burn over if you don't have the training and knowledge to use it. And that's why we practice these drills over and over and over again. Here's hoping all that training and knowledge will never be needed .