Joint fire exercise hailed as a success

Yallingup Coastal and Yallingup Rural bushfire brigades fought a simulated fire behind the town site last Tuesday, combining for their first joint exercise of the year.

A total of 36 volunteers took part as trucks were driven on the off-road tracks on Yallingup Hill to meet the hypothetical fires.

Volunteers fired up the hoses against the hypothetical blaze and burn overs were conducted to prepare firefighters for the event of being caught in the middle of a major fire.

Yallingup Coastal fire control officer Paul Blight said the town’s vulnerability was a concern year round but frequent exercises and working to get residents to take responsibility alongside the efforts of firefighters was essential.

“We just hope through exercises like these, everyone has a better feel for what it’s like out there,” he said.

“We need to be prepared, as there’s the potential for a major fire year-long,”

Yallingup Coastal training officer Stephen Carr said the exercise was a “huge success” and the brigades aimed to have more joint training in the future.

Pictures: