Three Kimberley shires will share more than $500,000 of WA Government funding for mitigation activities to help reduce bushfires in the region.

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley will receive $97,959 to conduct 11 treatments, while the Shire of Halls Creek will receive $153,738 for six treatments and the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley will receive $340,456 for 16 treatments.

The treatments include planned burns, establishing or maintaining firebreaks, and reducing fuel loads.

It is the first time the three Kimberley shires have received funding from the State Government’s bushfire mitigation activity fund.

Emergency Services Minister David Michael said the funding was “vital” in helping local governments undertake bushfire mitigation activities.

“In the past 12 months there have been more than 5100 bushfires across Western Australia, burning through around 7.5 million hectares — greater than the size of Tasmania,” he said.

“By reducing the scale of bushfires, we are also helping our valiant firefighters get control of incidents before they put lives, homes, and businesses at risk.”