As we move into the cooler, wetter season—known as Djeran in the Noongar calendar—the immediate risk of bushfire reduces significantly. Djeran, which typically spans April and May, signals a change in weather patterns across much of Western Australia, bringing lower temperatures, increased rainfall, and calmer conditions.

While fire risk may not feel urgent, this period provides the perfect window to prepare for the next bushfire season.

When people think of bushfire damage, they often imagine flames engulfing a house directly. But the reality is more complex. In fact, many homes lost to bushfire are located over 700 metres from the fire front—and most are not destroyed by direct flame contact.

Bushfire behaviour refers to how a bushfire responds to its surroundings—like the type of vegetation, weather, and land slope. Understanding how a fire is likely to behave helps us predict its intensity, speed, and direction.