Dwellingup area to stay connected.

Telstra has announced a relief package for its residential and business customers whose phone services have been affected by bush fires in the Dwellingup area in the south west of Western Australia.

Under the relief package, Telstra is offering customers who report a temporary loss of their home or business phone service due to the fires free call diversion from a Telstra fixed phone to another fixed or mobile service of their choice.

The telco giant has replaced damaged equipment and restored most services affected by bush fires; implemented contingency plans to provide free local, STD and mobile calls from payphones in planned evacuation points; arranged to deliver a mobile "cell on wheels" van with mobile antennae to assist mobile phone coverage for emergency services personnel; and organised additional satellite and mobile phones for emergency service workers.

Telstra mobile service customers whose premises have been destroyed by the fire, who did not have a fixed phone service at their premises prior to the fires, can receive a one-off credit of $50, limited to one mobile phone per household.

Ray Philp, area general manager of Telstra Country Wide advised Telstra technicians would work to restore any further services cut by bush fires; however, staff would not be permitted into affected areas until it was safe to enter.

"We encourage those people affected by the fire to call a nominated relative or friend to keep all others informed - this will help to reduce congestion on the network.

"We extend our sympathy to all people affected by the fires, and assure you that our staff will be working to maintain telecommunications services in the area throughout this emergency period," added Philp.