Firefighting workforce increased ahead of summer

FOREST Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) has upped its numbers ahead of the coming bushfire season with a boost to its workforce and rapid response capability from the state government.

Last week, Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos announced the Victorian government had spent $21.7 million to create 100 ongoing and 54 fixed term forest fire operations officer positions, adding to the 550 seasonal firefighters recruited to work with FFMVic this season.

The funding boost means more boots on the ground to respond and reduce the risk of bushfire to communities through planned burns, mechanical fuel treatments and maintenance of the state’s strategic fuel break network.

With the new firefighters, FFMVic now has a workforce of 1,800 personnel on the frontline.

Adding in other partner agencies, departments and volunteers, Victoria will have more than 62,800 people in fire and emergency roles this summer.

The Bureau of Meteorology has declared a combined El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole climate pattern, which will mean a drier and warmer spring, an earlier arrival of high-risk bushfire weather, and a prolonged fire season compared to recent years.

The workforce prepares and responds to bushfires all year round. Between July 1 and September 30, FFMVic firefighters responded to 142 fires, which is just below the 10-year average of 148 during the same period.

Over the coming weeks, planned burns will continue at sites across the Otways, the Great Ocean Road and in the far south-west.

These burns build on the 3,869 hectares of planned burns completed across the Barwon South West region in 2022-2023, which has reduced the residual risk below the target of 60 per cent of maximum levels.

Maintenance of an expanded network of strategic fuel breaks is also under way, with crews slashing and mulching these assets.

“Victoria will always have bushfires, but we can assure communities that when a bushfire starts, FFMVic is ready to respond – we work every day to reduce bushfire risk to communities,” Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said.

Victorians are encouraged to do their part to stay safe this bushfire season by preparing their properties, making a Bushfire Plan and staying up to date on emergency information and warnings.

“Living with a changing climate means bushfires are occurring more often and are more intense – that’s why we are investing in our forest firefighters who are at the frontline of protecting our communities and environment,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“It has been a pleasure meeting with some of our forest firefighters and learning more about the special skills and equipment they use to reduce bushfire risk and respond to fires.”

For more information, head to emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare