The Grain Harvest Aerial Fleet has been deployed to Narrogin in preparation for harvest’s high fire risk

An aerial firefighting fleet has been redeployed to a Wheatbelt shire in preparation for the year’s most fire-prone season, with the shire requiring aerial assistance with a dozen fires last harvest.

The waterbombing team, the Grain Harvest Aerial Fleet, arrived at the Narrogin airstrip on November 1 to reinforce the area’s firefighting capacity in time for the increased crop fire risk posed to Wheatbelt growers throughout harvest.

The strike team, which has been deployed for the past four years, responded to 12 fires within the Narrogin area during the 2024-25 harvest season.

Narrogin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service captain Leigh Ballard said it was integral that the fleet was stationed so close during fire season, and the extra hands and resources were pivotal to ensure a quick response, as firefighting and emergency services are all volunteer-run.

“The biggest advantage was we’ve actually got waterbombers within a short period of time to turn around if we have a large fire on a farming property through harvest period,” he said.

“We had three reasonably large fires in Narrogin alone last year.

“It was great to have them here; they don’t necessarily do all the work, but they make it much easier to fight the fires on the ground.”

A second strike team has also been stationed in Esperance, with each team including two fixed wing waterbombers and a supervision aircraft.

The aircraft can cruise at a speed of 280km/h, and can drop up to 3150 litres of water, foam or retardant.

The fleet’s fifth annual deployment was bolstered by $6.7 million from the State Government in its commitment to support and improve regional and remote emergency services.

Mr Ballard said the limited water supply over summer was another steep hurdle they faced when firefighting, so the State’s dedicated supply was a fantastic resource and was grateful for the support.

“It’s a great initiative by the State to fund it and to have those waterbombers based in Narrogin is great for us, but it’s also great for the larger region,” he said.

“We’re 45 minutes closer than if they were positioned in Bunbury, because that’s our next closest one.”

Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said the State Government was committed to supporting regional communities.

“As harvest ramps up, so too does the fire risk,” he said.

“Activating our specialised aerial strike teams in the region means we’ll be ready to respond quickly to any fires that threaten crops or communities.

“This initiative also helps to ease the burden on our farmers, who are often the first to face these fires.”