Strike fleet of water bombers arrive in Geraldton as emergency precaution over harvest period

An aerial strike fleet of water bombers has landed in Geraldton, on standby to boost firefighting capacity and reduce the severity of crop fires during the hottest stretch of harvest. Two fixed-wing water bombers, an air attack supervision aircraft and a fuel truck will be based at Geraldton Airport as a precautionary measure because of heightened risks with harvesters and dry paddocks this season. A crew of five has been sent with the aerial fleet and will be stationed in regional locations to boost emergency response times across WA’s grain production area. Department of Fire and Emergency Services Mid West-Gascoyne Supt Mark Bowen said the region’s landscape was at its hottest and driest, with increased fuel sources like crops posing a high risk of fires. “Crops are lower this year,” he said. “The cones are going to be closer to the ground. There’s an increased chance of them hitting a rock and a spark igniting. DFES has looked at that risk and brought the aircraft up to Geraldton,” “We’re expecting a prolonged bushfire season this year because of the dryness and the lack of any rain forecast.” The aerial fleet has been activated early in response to a trough that will increase fire danger ratings throughout WA this week. During the 2022-23 harvest, the fleet completed 205 drops over 28 incidents, dropping 645,750 litres on firegrounds from Geraldton to Esperance. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the fleet would reduce response times and support firefighters on the ground during the initial stages of fires. “Crop fires are often sparked by machinery or lightning, and when combined with dangerous weather conditions, they can escalate quickly,” he said. Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the aerial fleet would help protect farmers, regional communities and WA’s 9 million-hectare grain production area. “The grain sector is extremely valuable to the WA economy and is the State’s second-largest export commodity,” she said. The program is funded by DFES with support from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.