SAES crews on high alert as bushfire season intensifies in WA
- deansimpson7
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams in Western Australia have had a busy start to the bushfire season, with crews being called out to a number of fires in the state’s south-west since 1 December.
The Salvation Army’s State External Communications Manager, Warren Palmer, said most bushfires have been in the state’s south-west, particularly along the corridor stretching from Perth’s outer north-east through to the south-west and down to regional centres near Bunbury.
Salvation Army crews were mobilised in several locations before Christmas, including areas such as Kenwick, Bullsbrook and Jane Brook.
Since Christmas and over the New Year period, crews were once again called out to fires at Boddington, Warnbro, Kalamunda, Boya and Cowalla (100km north of Perth).
The Salvation Army Emergency Services was on the ground in response to fires in the Kenwick and Bullsbrook regions before Christmas.
“Rain, hail or shine, our teams travel, prepare and serve our first responders, 24 hours a day as required,” Warren said.
“It is important, though, to acknowledge that we (SAES) do not take a break from Christmas to New Year. In fact, it can be one of the busiest times of the season.”
A good example of the SAES crews’ commitment came in the days between Christmas and New Year when volunteers mobilised to cater for emergency personnel fighting fires near Warnbro (south of Rockingham) and areas north of Bunbury, serving hundreds of meals across a single day.
Warnbro train station and a large part of the Mandurah train line were closed as unexploded ordnance hampered efforts to contain a bushfire.
Rockingham Corps opened its doors to receive donations from the community, and local businesses provided support to the first responders.
Local residents donated carloads of items, with Coles stores at Lakelands and Rockingham, both Woolworths stores in Baldivis and Fantastic Furniture donating and delivering water, snacks and other refreshments.
(Top) Salvation Army personnel from Rockingham Corps with donations from businesses and the SAES set-up at the Warnbro fires.
“I want to take a moment to salute and thank our amazing volunteers at Western Australia Salvation Army Emergency Services for sacrificing their time, giving of their energy and skills for our first responders who deserve nothing but our very best. They are a perfect reflection of humility as well,” Warren said.
“Thank you does not seem enough, but at this moment, we say 'thank God for our volunteers'!”
Salvation Army volunteers serving at the Kalamunda fires west of Perth on New Year’s Day.
