Heavy rainfalls have meant big fuel loads in the Kimberley this fire season and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has responded by allocating an extra 16 firefighting vehicles to the North West.

Controlled burning programs are already under way in the Kimberley and Pilbara and a fire started by unknown means at the Mitchell Plateau has been burning for several days already in the past week.

Parts of the Kimberley were projected to experience above-normal fire potential in the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC 2017 Northern Australia Season Bushfire Outlook.