WA fire service could cost $560m a year

Setting up a new rural WA fire service could lead to property owners paying hundreds of dollars more in annual levies, a report has found.

The establishment of a rural fire service was recommended in an independent report into the devastating 2016 Yarloop bushfire and the Economic Regulation Authority has costed such a move in a report released on Friday.

If a new rural fire service was staffed by 3600 career firefighters, it would push property owners' emergency services levies up by $363 a year to $581.

However, maintaining a volunteer model would cost just $2.41 extra.