• Cook Government invests $13.8 million over next three years to future proof aerial firefighting fleet
• Two extra Black Hawk helicopters secured last season now funded until 2028-29
• All 38 of WA's aerial firefighting fleet to be online from 20 December

The Cook Government has injected an additional $13.8 million to supercharge Western Australia's aerial firefighting fleet, with two pairs of Black Hawk helicopters operating for the next three bushfire seasons.

The funding boost comes as the final pair of Black Hawks, to be based in Gingin, are set to start operating from 20 December, when all 38 of the State's record aerial firefighting fleet will be available to protect WA communities.

Last bushfire season the Cook Government committed $10.1 million to add the second pair of Black Hawks to the fleet for two seasons.

The extra $13.8 million funding will ensure the aircraft are helping keep WA communities safe through to the end of the 2028-29 bushfire season. The first pair of Black Hawks were added to the fleet in 2021.

Black Hawk helicopters offer a unique advantage, being able to operate in extreme conditions, low visibility and can reload up to 4,500 litres of water in just 35 seconds.

The first two Black Hawks came online this season on 1 December based in Serpentine. They played a critical role helping contain the fire that threatened 500 homes in Geraldton earlier this month with their ability to reach terrain inaccessible to fire trucks.

The 38 aircraft in the State's aerial fleet also includes the WA Large Air Tanker (LAT), based in Busselton, and a range of rotary and fixed-wing suppression and intelligence aircraft.

The C130 Hercules LAT also came online on 1 December and will remain in WA for at least 90 days. It has the capacity to carry up to 15,000 litres of fire suppressant and can reach speeds of 545 kph, enabling it to suppress severe, large-scale bushfires and build effective containment lines.

WA's dedicated LAT was introduced in December 2022 at the beginning of the 2022-23 bushfire season. The State Government secured the aircraft with an $11 million investment to ensure there was a locally based LAT in WA.

The aerial fleet is managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Aircraft are positioned in Jandakot, Serpentine, Gingin, Bunbury, Busselton, Manjimup and Albany and are relocated across the State as the bushfire risk profile changes.

The first aircraft were activated on 1 November and are based in Narrogin, Geraldton and Esperance to protect WA's grain harvest.

Each bushfire season the aerial fleet plays an essential role in suppressing out-of-control fires.

Between October 2024 and May 2025, the fleet flew more than 2,000 hours and dropped 13.5 million litres of water and retardant across 205 bushfires between the Mid West and the Great Southern.

Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia:

"We are delighted to have secured the extra set of Black Hawk helicopters for the next three years.

"WA is the largest emergency management jurisdiction in the southern hemisphere and having such an agile and effective aerial fleet will provide a major boost to our firefighting arsenal to keep the community safe.

"Every day during the southern bushfire season the 38-strong aerial fleet will be on standby to rapidly deploy to an emergency."

Comments attributed to Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM:

"The aerial fleet plays a vital role in supporting our dedicated crews on the ground, particularly when fires break out in difficult, inaccessible terrain or are burning too intensely for direct attack on the fire.

"The C130 Hercules Large Air Tanker is incredibly effective at building containment lines to stop the spread of fire and the Black Hawk helicopters' drop capacity and agility have proven to be a versatile and efficient resource for firefighters in their efforts to protect lives and homes.  

"Our dedicated career and volunteer firefighters have already responded to several emergency level and watch and act bushfires this season, not only in regional areas but also close to the city. It's now time for all Western Australians to play their part by downloading the Emergency WA app and taking 15 minutes to prepare their bushfire plan."