First fire, then sewage from the sky for Perth residents after helicopter blunder

A helicopter fighting bushfires near Bullsbrook accidentally draw water from a sewerage pond, raising concerns that vegetable gardens and fruit trees in the area may have been contaminated.

WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued a hazmat warning after a water-bombing helicopter accidentally drew water from a sewerage pond. Picture: Lachie Millard

Residents in a Perth suburb threatened by bushfires this week have been warned to thoroughly wash any homegrown fruit or vegetables and empty out their water tanks after a waterbombing helicopter accidentally dumped effluent in the area.

Western Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services on Thursday morning issued a hazmat warning for parts of the outer suburb of Bullsbrook, advising residents that a waterbombing helicopter active in the area on Wednesday had dropped water it had drawn from sewerage wastewater holding ponds.

The department said residents in the area did not need to be alarmed, given the heatwave temperatures in Perth this week were likely to “neutralise” any bacteria spread as a result of the incident.

DFES said those in the area with water tanks for household use should consider emptying the tanks, while those with vegetable gardens and fruit trees should not consume any produce from them for the next 48 hours.

It also warned that evaporative air conditioners in the affected area should have their water reservoirs emptied and their pads washed.

WA Premier Roger Cook said while the risk to people in the area was very remote, an alert had been issued out of an abundance of caution.

“Our priority is to keep people safe and to get the fires out, and in an emergency situation sometimes it doesn’t always go to plan,” he said.

Mr Cook said he believed the incident was the first of its kind in WA. “There will certainly be an investigation into this and the emergency services commissioner has confirmed that this morning,” he said.

“My understanding is that the water in this case was used to lay down across bushland as part of a suppression arrangement.

“So it wasn’t used in an area where you have homes or gardens … from that perspective, it should have very little impact.”

Bushfire and heatwave warnings are in place across much of WA this week, with temperatures in Perth forecast to peak at 41C on Friday and Saturday.

The high temperatures are expected to put a strain on the state’s electricity grid, prompting Mr Cook to encourage people to set their air conditioners to no lower than 24C.