Record heatwave affects schools

The Department of Education and Catholic Education Western Australia have recently had to deal with some of the state’s most dangerous bushfire conditions.

Nearly 30 schools in the state’s South West were temporarily closed because of the increased risk of bushfires last month, with the fire rating classified as ‘extreme’, amid a record-breaking number of days of more than 40 degrees.

Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said school closures in the South West were expected ahead of the February 20 forecast.

Total fire bans were in place for the Perth metropolitan, Goldfields Midlands, South West, lower South West, and the Great Southern regions.

At a press conference, commissioner Klemm said parts of the South West were under strict fire danger measures, some of the most extensive measures implemented.

“Hot, dry and windy conditions will spark the most dangerous bushfire conditions we’ve seen since the new fire danger rating system was introduced in September 2022,” he said.

“Extreme fire danger ratings are forecast …across sixty-one local government areas across the South West land division of WA.”

The forecast prompted the Department of Education and Catholic Education WA to issue alerts for February 20.

Schools temporarily closed because of bushfire risk included primary and high schools in Boyup Brook, Bridgetown, Donnybrook, Manjimup, Kirup, Kojonup, Nannup, Pemberton, Ravensthorpe and Northcliffe.

Catholic schools closed on the day included St Brigid’s in Bridgetown, St Joseph’s in Pemberton, St Bernard’s in Kojonup, and St Mary’s in Donnybrook.

“No-one, including staff, will be allowed on site as it will not be safe,” the alerts said.

“Parents and carers are asked to please ensure supervision arrangements are in place for their children.”

In February, the Bureau of Meteorology recorded seven days of 40 degrees or more.

This almost doubled the previous record of four days for the month.

However, Department of Education director general Lisa Rodgers said heat alone would not prompt school closures.

“These schools are not closed because of hot weather in the area,” Ms Rodgers told Business News.

“Pre-emptive closures are for schools on the bushfire zone register, and in response to alerts issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Bureau of Meteorology and relate to the risk of a bushfire.

“Public schools remain open during periods of high temperature.

“Schools have appropriate measures in place to minimise the impact of hot weather on students and staff.”

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services introduced the display of school closures on its emergency WA map during the bushfire season in 2021.

At the time, DFES said displaying the school closures on the map would give parents a more detailed picture of emergency effects on them and their children.

“The latest enhancement to Emergency WA enables the Department of Education to plot school closures directly onto the Emergency WA map so users can quickly identify where their school is in relation to a bushfire warning area,” DFES said in 2021.

Despite the 2021 display change only covering public schools, CEWA issued the same warning to parents, students and staff at South West schools by not allowing anyone on site ahead of February 20.

A CEWA spokesperson said six of its schools in the South West were closed.

"CEWA’s actions were in line both with our own crisis management processes and in co-ordination with the Department of Education and other relevant government agencies," the spokesperson said.

"At all times our first priority is the health and safety of our staff and students.”

According to the Department of Education’s alert for February 20, a school’s bushfire risk was to be determined yearly in consultation with DFES.

“The school is closed to ensure the safety of students and staff as the fire danger rating will be extreme,” the alert reads.

Ms Rodgers said the Department of Education worked closely with DFES and the Bureau of Meteorology to monitor potential fire danger.

“We do everything we can to keep schools open, but when there is an extreme alert issued by DFES and BOM, schools are pre-emptively closed,” she said.

“This includes information from the Health Department and strategies to minimise the impact of hot weather on students and staff, such as adjusting physical education activities, asking children to eat in classrooms and providing alternative play areas and, instructions on how to reduce the electrical load.”