Bushfire Information


Mount Helena Primary School is on the Catastrophic Fire Danger Register (CFDR) and as such may be closed on days where the fire danger is listed as catastrophic for the local area. Parents will be advised of pre-emptive closures in writing. 

To ensure the safety of our students, practice drills are run during Term 1 and Term 4 each year. The attached document outlines our Bushfire Emergency Procedures. 

Evacuation Procedures

 

Each year we practice our evacuation drills early in term one to ensure that everyone is aware of our evacuation process, including our new students. We have completed this process very successfully.  For your information, our evacuation process is:

 

  1. Three short blasts of the siren indicates a classroom evacuation is required. (At this time the Deputy Principal will check the toilets and the office staff will collect the early departure /late arrivals book for students, as well as the visitor book).
  2. Students listen to teacher instructions: collect water bottles & bags, assemble outside the classroom. Students are counted.
  3. Classes move with their teacher to the safer location (newest building) assembling in their allocated room with their ‘buddy class’.
  4. Students are cross-referenced against the class attendance roll and the early departures / late arrivals books. (All other visitors are crossed-referenced against the Visitors Book.)
  5. When all students are accounted for, teacher advises Principal.
  6. Principal provides instructions to staff (based upon the Incident Controller’s instruction).
  7. In the event of a practice, the Principal calls all clear, when everyone has been accounted for.

Bushfire Emergency Procedure (as taken from Standalone bushfire plan 2024-2025)

Bushfire Zone Register

The Department of Education (the Department) is committed to maximising the safety of its students and staff.  Mount Helena Primary has been added to the Bushfire Zone Register.  Inclusion on this register means that the school may be required to invoke a pre-emptive closure on a day for which a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating (FDR) has been declared for the Shire of Mundaring.  A Catastrophic FDR means that if a fire starts, it is likely to be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving.

 

What does this mean for our school?

When given advance warning by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) that a Catastrophic FDR has been forecast for a given day, the Deputy Director General, Schools may direct the pre-emptive closure of Mount Helena Primary School.  If the school receives such a directive, you will be informed of the possible planned closure by a letter sent home with your child.  Parents of students absent on the day this letter is sent home will be contacted by telephone, so please ensure the school has up to date contact details for you. In the intervening period between the declaration of the pre-emptive closure and the day of planned closure, DFES will keep the Department informed of any change to the FDR forecast for the declared day.  The final decision to pre-emptively close the school will be confirmed with the principal no later than 4.30pm on the day before the planned closure.  If the forecast changes after that deadline, the closure will stand, regardless of improvements to the weather conditions later in the afternoon of the day before the planned closure or overnight.  The intention is to limit confusion or uncertainty for parents and to allow you ample time to make alternative child care arrangements. Parents will be advised of the confirmation of closure, or its reversal, by a note sent home with your child on the day before the planned closure.  Again, parents of students absent on this day will be contacted by telephone.

 

How will I know when the school is reopening?

It is anticipated that the school will typically only be required to close for a single day at a time, however this will depend on the weather.  I ask that you monitor local media for current information about fire danger ratings and notification of schools reopening.  Staying tuned to ABC Local Radio in your locality is advisable.  You can also check with DFES on 13 DFES (13 33 37) or www.dfes.wa.gov.au and Emergency WA.  Alternatively, you can call the North Metropolitan Regional Education Office on 9285 3600.   Please contact the school on 9573 0000.

 

 

For more information on the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFRDS) levels please visit Department of Fire and Emergency Services Australian Warning System (dfes.wa.gov.au)


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