The Rural Fire Service (RFS) provides fire services to 93% of Queensland’s vast state. The RFS is made up of approximately 28,000 volunteers who make up the 1,400 rural fire brigades and 2,400 fire warden districts.
Although there is a general perception that the main role of RFS volunteers is active firefighting there is much more to being a member of a rural fire brigade.
RFS volunteer provide services in their local area, including:
- Firefighting landscape fires
- Hazard prevention and mitigation advice
- Issuing permits and fire warden activities
- Community education and engagement
- Disaster management response and recovery options.
The recent bushfire seasons experienced in Australia highlight the important contribution that RFS volunteers make not only to the state of Queensland but across the country. RFS volunteers provided duties including firefighting, catering, incident management, logistics support, operational planning, community education, and evacuations.
Brigades across the state work to help prepare for fire seasons by training new members, conducting hazard reduction burns, and educating members of the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of fire and emergency events.
It's the generous contribution of RFS volunteers that makes a massive impact in Queensland and Australian communities.
