Students learn about bushfire danger

The program helps children understand bushfires and the danger they pose.

Launched at Armadale Primary School, 'Bushfire Patrol' combines bushfire awareness lessons with an online interactive game, and has been developed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and partly funded by the Federal Natural Disaster Resilience Program.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis said Bushfire Patrol was developed to provide teachers with an interactive way of teaching students about fire weather conditions, bushfire behaviour, bushfire protection and bushfire warnings.

“Dealing with bushfires is a critical part of living in Western Australia so it’s appropriate that it is taught in our classrooms from a young age,” Mr Francis said.

Mr Francis said the program was based on national research on bushfire education, and incorporated advice from local firefighters and teachers in high bushfire risk areas.

Education Minister Peter Collier said it was pleasing to see new ways of teaching children to better understand the threat of natural disasters and schools being proactive in preparing for bushfires.

 “The State Government has spent more than $1.6million installing ember screens to all evaporative air-cooling systems at schools in high-risk areas.

“These screens protect students and staff by preventing dangerous embers from entering the system,” Mr Collier said.

 “Schools are preparing their sites for the bushfire season and working closely with the DFES to assess risks and carry out mitigation work.”