Rockingham fire safety goes digital

Thursday, 29 March 2018 09:22

By Taylah Strano

Four new solar powered fire danger rating signs have replaced manually operated signs around Rockingham.

The City of Rockingham made the switch to electronic roadside signs to provide rapid and critical information on bushfire threats in the region.

Four existing Fire Danger Rating signs located on Patterson Road, Rockingham, Safety Bay Road, Baldivis, Mandurah Road, Singleton and Mundijong Road, Karnup have been replaced by the high-tech Electronic Fire Danger Rating signs.

A fifth EFDR sign is positioned in a new location westbound on Kulija Road, Baldivis, off the Kwinana Freeway exit.

The five signs have been strategically placed on the highest traffic routes towards high bushfire risk areas and the more densely populated areas.

The signs receive instant updates from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services through the mobile phone network to automatically change the fire danger rating display.

Additional information such as total fire bans, fire break due dates and severe weather warnings can be added to the message board to ensure timely and localised warnings are continually available, as needed.

Flashing beacons on either side of the signs will also be activated during emergencies or to highlight total fire bans or catastrophic fire ratings.

City of Rockingham Major Barry Sammels said “The new EFDR signs will provide more efficient and readable information to the community and ensure any change in conditions is instantly and simultaneously displayed on all the signs.”

The City is in a restricted burning period from April 1 through to May 30.

Owners of rural and semi-rural properties wishing to undertake a hazard reduction burn can request a permit to burn from the City.