North West bushfire patrol (Years 4-6)

The Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services have developed and released North West Bushfire Patrol, a curriculum linked primary school bushfire education resource for all schools across the North West of Australia. It has been designed to be geographically and culturally appropriate for students in this region.

The resources were written in collaboration with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, using the latest research in disaster resilience education. The activities enable students to work towards the following outcomes:

• Knowing how to identify safe and unsafe fire behaviour and unsafe fire times and risks
• Developing a range of skills to help them respond to bushfire when it occurs
• Developing personal behaviours and strategies for staying safe when there is a fire
• Understanding the impact of deliberate fires on communities and the environment
• Detecting key bushfire factors required to prepare for bushfire

Module One – Understanding Bushfire

Students are able to explain what causes bushfires in the North West, know how to respond appropriately when they see people playing with fire and are able to identify if an area is bushfire prone.

Module Two – Factors Affecting Bushfire Behaviour

Students are able to explain when bushfires are most likely to occur in the Kimberley region and can determine bushfire weather and times when it is safe to have a fire. Students are able to locate the Fire Danger Rating for their local area and understand its purpose.

Module Three – Impacts of Bushfires

Students understand that bushfires have a largely negative impact on our community but that community members can prepare for bushfires to lessen the impacts. Students understand the impacts of fire on the natural environment and identify how differing fire patterns have differing impacts on plant and animal populations.

Module Four – Fire Land Management

Students understand how fire regimes have changed over time, from pre-human to Aboriginal to current fire regimes and can identify key personnel involved in fire management in North West Australia. Students understand that cultural values, biodiversity and the economy are all considered when fire management strategies are developed.

Module Five – Responding to Bushfire

Students understand where to find information during a bushfire and know how to plan for and respond to a bushfire in order to keep safe.