A West Australian coroner investigating the deaths of four people on the state's south coast says climate change is undoubtably intensifying bushfires nationwide.
The United Professional Firefighters Union of Western Australia had suggested this would improve emergency response times, training and increase the DFES presence in the region.
"The evidence put before me in this inquest, and the recurring theme of the submissions, is that the lack of any long-term, appropriate funding for fire mitigation in the Esperance region has created a major bushfire risk by allowing fuel loads to increase dramatically and firebreak maintenance to fall behind," she said.
She recommended that airstrips in the north-west corner of the Esperance Shire be reviewed, and ones that can facilitate water bombers be identified.
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