The region is at significant risk from wildfires over summer and FESA has warned landowners to be prepared and conduct fuel-reduction burns to a minimum of 20 metres around property.

The season was jump-started on October 17 when fire at Elleker burned 400 hectares of bush and came close to one home.

Two firefighters were injured and a 4WD fire-fighting vehicle was extensively damaged.

The City of Albany said the fire was caused by the accidental escape of a private landowner’s fuel-reduction burn.

“The Elleker fire would have been more severe during the summer months, and the conditions on the day assisted us in controlling the fire,” the City’s statement said.

“People should not expect a fire appliance to be at their property to protect in the event of wildfire.

“In this situation, fire trucks were situated around the containment lines.

“If the area had been more populated, fire fighters could not be at each house due to heath and safety issues.”

The City said residents should monitor ABC radio for information in the event of an emergency.

The City requires firebreaks be installed by landowners by December 1 and maintained until April 30.

The Elleker home in danger survived because the property owner had reduced fuel loads around her property.

Roger Underwood from Bushfire Front, which promotes better management of fire in WA, said not enough was being done to stop the risk of bushfires in the Great Southern.

“The Bushfire Front is gravely concerned about the standards of bushfire preparedness in many WA rural and regional communities,” he said.

“The town of Denmark, for example, is one of the most seriously bushfire-threatened communities in Australia.

“If a fire gets going in bushland north or north-west of Denmark on a hot day in February with strong north-westerly winds, the whole place will disappear off the map.

“Unless the community is rapidly evacuated onto the beaches or into the sea, there will be many lives lost.”