11,064
Volunteer Hours

249
Volunteers Deployed

103
Work Orders Completed

$545,497
Community Costs Saved

 

On Monday, 1 February 2021 the Wooroloo fire started near Werribee Road, Wooroloo, Western Australia and was first reported at around 2pm. On Tuesday, 2 February 2021, the fire had travelled in a north
west direction spreading from the Shire of Mundaring into the City of Swan, destroying approximately 80% of properties in the township of Tilden Park. By Saturday, 6 February 2021, the fire had covered 26kms burning approximately 10,900 hectares.

The emergency efforts transitioned from the response to recovery phase on Thursday, 11 February 2021. As of Thursday, 18 February 2021, approximately 320 properties had been damaged by the fire with 86 of those destroyed.

Operation Woods was Disaster Relief Australia’s (DRA) first major operation in Western Australia, incorporating the launch of our Perth Disaster Relief Team. DRA collaboration with the Minderoo
Foundation’s Fire and Flood Resilience initiative, partnering to rapidly deploy volunteers into the region to help with recovery efforts for the Perth Hills Bushfire.

As part of this new initiative, DRA coordinated deployment of our members and volunteers from Minderoo, including staff from Fortescue Metals and Western Force as well as providing on the ground support for recovery efforts. The Minderoo Fire and Flood Resilience Fund covered travel and accommodation costs.

This collaboration ensures fire-affected communities are matched with skilled and experienced volunteers, to help them rebuild and recover from what has been the most devastating fire season in Australian history.

Operation Woods has been DRA’s largest operation to date with 219 volunteers deployed and 30 Minderoo volunteers.

During Operation Woods, DRA launched it’s 7th DRT (disaster relief team) and deployed volunteers from every state and territory across Australia.

Significant media reported on Disaster Relief Australia’s operations in the Perth Hills area bringing vital awareness to the ongoing issues faced by disaster affected communities.

 

Disaster Relief Australia felt a sense of urgency to quickly gear up and provide much needed bushfire recovery to those affected by the Perth Hills bushfires.

We leaned forwards to spin up our newest Disaster Relief Team in Perth. This was no small task and a worthy one. We’re proud of the expertise accumulated over many operations that allowed us to bring together the best minds and valued partnerships to lay a foundation for future operations in WA.

Trusted Disaster Relief Partners

At the close of Wave 5, we take this moment to look back and reflect on the success of Operation Woods so far.

8103
Volunteer Hours

157
Volunteer Deployed

68
Work Orders Completed

$426,091
Community Costs Saved

 

It’s really good seeing you guys here

It’s been 7 weeks since the fire came through. The fire did an awful lot of damage to the property. You guys have been the first people to actually arrive on the property and start helping with the clean up. Your response has been great and the ease of getting you guys to come here has been appreciated. Having all you cheery people on the property has honestly been amazing. The work you have done here today, if I would have done it by myself, it would have taken me forever.

David Massie, Property Owner

Operation Highlights

Reflecting on the establishment of our seventh disaster relief team, located in Perth.

Minderoo Foundation volunteers worked side by side with DRA strike teams.
Through the efforts of many, DRA has been able to quickly bring help where it’s needed most.
Diligent sifting has brought hope to families. Some valuable family memories have been retrieved.

We are a lot closer to getting back on our land

Seeing you guys rolling in, and just getting down to it and chipping away has been so awesome. You are going to take a huge chunk out of what I would have had to do on my own, this would have taken me days and so I am so grateful.

All we want to do is get back onto our land but my husband Brett works away and so we have wanted to get fences in for security, because it’s just me and the two girls, we haven’t been able to do that because the land hasn’t been cleared.

After today and the work you guys have done, we are a lot closer to getting back on our land.