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EspañolNEW SOUTH WALES RURAL FIRE SERVICE
(Redirected from Rural Fire Service)
The 'New South Wales Rural Fire Service' (RFS) is a volunteer firefighting service and is responsible for providing fire protection to over 90% of the geographical area of the state of New South Wales in Australia. They have 600 paid staff who fulfil the management and administrative roles of the service (current October 2005).
The traditional role of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) has been in the protection of the NSW community from bushfires, however this role has since expanded to include attendance to structure fires, and assisting at all types of emergencies including motor vehicle accidents, flood relief/rescue and mountain rescue. The 2005/06 annual report of the RFS stated that service is provided to 95% of the State, and in many cases the RFS is responded as a first response agency.[1]
The NSW RFS holds claim to be the world's largest fire service, with over 70,000 volunteer firefighters forming 2093 volunteer brigades across New South Wales.1
The service started as a number of independent brigades in the late 19th Century as a reaction to a number of damaging bush fire seasons. This situation remained mostly unchanged until the Second World War when the Federal government formed the Bush Fires (Emergency) Committee. After the end of the war this committee developed the legislation that would eventually become Bush Fires Act 1949.
The most significant provision of the Act was the creation of a Bush Fire Fighting Fund from which local councils or governments could obtain funds for their local brigades. In 1990 the Department of Bush Fire Services was set up to administer the NSW Minister for Emergency Services' responsibilities under the Bush Fires Act.
Following a lengthy Coronial Inquiry into the devastating fires of 1993/4 the NSW State Government introduced the 1997 Rural Fires Act, which rescinded the 1949 Bush Fires Act and merged the various Bush Fire Services into a single rural fire service with a single chain of command under the name Rural Fire Service. The emergence of a more centralised administration of rural fire services in NSW, through control of bushfire brigades being moved from local government to the RFS has led to ongoing tensions between volunteer firefighters in rural areas and the Sydney-based RFS leadership.
The NSW Rural Fire Service was established by the Rural Fires Act 1997. Prior to this Brigades were run by local government councils and were administered by the NSW Bush Fire Council (BFC). The power of the BFC was limited and not fully supported by legislation.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service consists of volunteers and also paid staff. The most senior member of the organisation is the Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. The inaugural Commissioner was Phil Koperberg, who was head of the organisation from as early as 1985 when he was director-general of the then Department of Bushfire Services. In December, 2006 Koperberg took leave from that role to contest a seat in the New South Wales State Election. After his election to Parliament in March, 2007 Koperberg resigned his position. The role is currently (August 2007) being held by an acting Commissioner until such time as the Minister for Emergency Services appoints a new Commissioner. Shane Fitzsimmons is acting in the position of Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
★ Shane Fitzsimmons 2007 - (Acting)
★ Robin Rodgers 2007 - (Acting)
★ Phil Koperberg 1985 - 2007
★ Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
★ Assistant Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
★ Chief Superintendent
★ Superintendent
★ Inspector
★ Unranked staff
★ Group Captain
★ Deputy Group Captain
★ Captain
★ Senior Deputy Captain
★ Deputy Captain
★ Firefighter
Firefighting appliances utilised within the RFS are all painted white over orange/red, equipped with red/blue flashing emergency lights and sirens and are categorised as follows:
★ Category 1 Heavy Tanker 4WD (3,001-4,000 Litres)
★ Category 2 Medium Tanker 4WD (1,601-3,000 Litres)
★ Category 3 Heavy Tanker (Cat 1 without 4WD)
★ Category 4 Medium Tanker (Cat 2 without 4WD)
★ Category 5 Super Tanker 4WD (4,001+ Litres)
★ Category 6 Super Tanker (Cat 5 without 4WD)
★ Category 7 Light Tanker 4WD (801-1,600 Litres)
★ Category 8 Light Tanker (Category 7 without 4WD)
★ Category 9 Ultra Light (Striker/Mop-up) 4WD Appliance (350-800 Litres)
★ Category 10 Urban Pumper 4WD
★ Category 11 Urban Pumper
★ Category 12 Personnel Transport Vehicle
★ Category 13 Bulk Water Tankers
★ Category 14 Tanker-Trailers
★ Category 15 Fire Boat
The most common of these tankers is the Dual Cab Category 1 Tanker (mainly used in a combination of urban and rural roles), also in common use are Category 7 tankers in both single and dual cab and Category 9 appliances. Category 2 tankers are less common, and Category 11 pumpers can be found in many brigades with dedicated urban responsibilities. Most brigades have a category 12 vehicle (generally Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarriers) Category 13 vehicles are usually rented in the event of a major fire campaign, however there are some Districts that maintain Category 13 vehicles. Category 14 vehicles are often found on farms. The remaining categories are seldom, if ever, used. Technical information on some of these tankers is available in the Tanker Information section of the service's website.
There are a number of water-based firefighting appliances (Category 15) within the RFS; these appliances are generally operated by brigades located in areas where the only available access is via water (e.g. communities along the Hawkesbury River of NSW).
The RFS utilises various support vehicles. These are categorised as follows:
★ Personnel Carriers. Generally a 4WD in the style of Toyota Landcruisers or Land Rover Defenders. In recent times this has been expanded to Toyota Hilux's and Nissan Navaras
★ Forward Control Vehicles. These mobile communications centres can range in size from small 4WD-type vehicles to bus-type vehicles.
★ Bulk Water Tankers to resupply appliances engaged in fire fighting activities.
★ Catering Units. Catering units vary in size from small trailers, to large fully-equipped mobile kitchen trucks. Catering Units are usually operated by specialist Catering Brigades
★ Lighting Units. Towed behind a personnel carrier, or other service vehicle. Used to light areas for night time operations such as Motor Vehicle Accidents.
The Rural Fire Service also operates an Aviation Unit. The RFS owns one aircraft, a fixed wing "Firescan" aircraft used in mapping, monitoring and detecting fires. The Aviation Unit also contracts aircraft on a full time and on call basis in the role of supporting ground-based firefighting efforts, scouting fires, and spotting new fires. RFS Aviation has also been employed to assist during flood emergencies, such as the June 2005 floods in Northern NSW.
Each Rural Fire Service member is issued and equipped with the latest 'standards exceeding' safety equipment in order to undertake the varied and dangerous roles they are trained for, such PPE includes:
''For brigades with bushfire and village fire fighting roles, defensive only''
★ Bushfire Boots - hard toe boots, heat & chemical resistant
★ Bushfire Gloves - for radiant heat and sharp objects
★ Bushfire Helmet - lightweight head protection for radiant heat and falling trees/branches
★ Bushfire Two Piece Uniform - consists of gold/yellow jacket and pants with 3M triple reflective striping and RFS reflective back patch and sleeve insignia
★ Cold Climate Jacket (aka Turnout Coat) - Used in cold climates or overnight firefighting
★ Flash Hoods - for life threatening situations, ie; when in danger of being overrun by fire
''For brigades with strong village roles, who are equipped with CABA (compressed air breathing apparatus) and perform offensive firefighting - list below is issued in addition to the above''
★ Structural Boots - steel capped boots
★ Structural Jacket and Over trousers - lime green in colour, worn by those entering a burning building for additional radiant heat protection
★ Structural Helmets - extra strength helmet, with corresponding extra weight
★ Wet Weather gear - two piece bright yellow wet weather gear. Some regions will issue to each firefighter, other regions will only issue per seat per appliance.
See Brigades of the NSW RFS
1.
★ NSW Rural Fire Service Corporate Plan 2006-2008[1]
★ New South Wales Fire Brigades
★ Country Fire Service (South Australia)
★ Country Fire Authority (Victoria)
★ Section 44
★ STARG - State Tactical Assisted Resource Group
★ Remote Area Firefighting Team
★ Davidson Rural Fire Brigade
★ Beacon Hill Bushfire Brigade
★ Bushfire
★ Firefighting
★ NSW Rural Fire Service Official Website
★ NSW Rural Fire Service Association
★ Peninsula Rural Fire Brigade Website
RFS insignia
The 'New South Wales Rural Fire Service' (RFS) is a volunteer firefighting service and is responsible for providing fire protection to over 90% of the geographical area of the state of New South Wales in Australia. They have 600 paid staff who fulfil the management and administrative roles of the service (current October 2005).
The traditional role of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) has been in the protection of the NSW community from bushfires, however this role has since expanded to include attendance to structure fires, and assisting at all types of emergencies including motor vehicle accidents, flood relief/rescue and mountain rescue. The 2005/06 annual report of the RFS stated that service is provided to 95% of the State, and in many cases the RFS is responded as a first response agency.[1]
The NSW RFS holds claim to be the world's largest fire service, with over 70,000 volunteer firefighters forming 2093 volunteer brigades across New South Wales.1
History
RFS memorial in Berrigan commemorating the establishment of the first bush fire brigade in New South Wales.
The service started as a number of independent brigades in the late 19th Century as a reaction to a number of damaging bush fire seasons. This situation remained mostly unchanged until the Second World War when the Federal government formed the Bush Fires (Emergency) Committee. After the end of the war this committee developed the legislation that would eventually become Bush Fires Act 1949.
The most significant provision of the Act was the creation of a Bush Fire Fighting Fund from which local councils or governments could obtain funds for their local brigades. In 1990 the Department of Bush Fire Services was set up to administer the NSW Minister for Emergency Services' responsibilities under the Bush Fires Act.
Following a lengthy Coronial Inquiry into the devastating fires of 1993/4 the NSW State Government introduced the 1997 Rural Fires Act, which rescinded the 1949 Bush Fires Act and merged the various Bush Fire Services into a single rural fire service with a single chain of command under the name Rural Fire Service. The emergence of a more centralised administration of rural fire services in NSW, through control of bushfire brigades being moved from local government to the RFS has led to ongoing tensions between volunteer firefighters in rural areas and the Sydney-based RFS leadership.
The NSW Rural Fire Service was established by the Rural Fires Act 1997. Prior to this Brigades were run by local government councils and were administered by the NSW Bush Fire Council (BFC). The power of the BFC was limited and not fully supported by legislation.
Human Resources
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service consists of volunteers and also paid staff. The most senior member of the organisation is the Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. The inaugural Commissioner was Phil Koperberg, who was head of the organisation from as early as 1985 when he was director-general of the then Department of Bushfire Services. In December, 2006 Koperberg took leave from that role to contest a seat in the New South Wales State Election. After his election to Parliament in March, 2007 Koperberg resigned his position. The role is currently (August 2007) being held by an acting Commissioner until such time as the Minister for Emergency Services appoints a new Commissioner. Shane Fitzsimmons is acting in the position of Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
Commissioners
★ Shane Fitzsimmons 2007 - (Acting)
★ Robin Rodgers 2007 - (Acting)
★ Phil Koperberg 1985 - 2007
Paid Staff
★ Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
★ Assistant Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
★ Chief Superintendent
★ Superintendent
★ Inspector
★ Unranked staff
Volunteers
★ Group Captain
★ Deputy Group Captain
★ Captain
★ Senior Deputy Captain
★ Deputy Captain
★ Firefighter
Equipment
Firefighting Vehicles
RFS Category 1 tanker
Firefighting appliances utilised within the RFS are all painted white over orange/red, equipped with red/blue flashing emergency lights and sirens and are categorised as follows:
★ Category 1 Heavy Tanker 4WD (3,001-4,000 Litres)
★ Category 2 Medium Tanker 4WD (1,601-3,000 Litres)
★ Category 3 Heavy Tanker (Cat 1 without 4WD)
★ Category 4 Medium Tanker (Cat 2 without 4WD)
★ Category 5 Super Tanker 4WD (4,001+ Litres)
★ Category 6 Super Tanker (Cat 5 without 4WD)
★ Category 7 Light Tanker 4WD (801-1,600 Litres)
★ Category 8 Light Tanker (Category 7 without 4WD)
★ Category 9 Ultra Light (Striker/Mop-up) 4WD Appliance (350-800 Litres)
★ Category 10 Urban Pumper 4WD
★ Category 11 Urban Pumper
★ Category 12 Personnel Transport Vehicle
★ Category 13 Bulk Water Tankers
★ Category 14 Tanker-Trailers
★ Category 15 Fire Boat
The most common of these tankers is the Dual Cab Category 1 Tanker (mainly used in a combination of urban and rural roles), also in common use are Category 7 tankers in both single and dual cab and Category 9 appliances. Category 2 tankers are less common, and Category 11 pumpers can be found in many brigades with dedicated urban responsibilities. Most brigades have a category 12 vehicle (generally Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarriers) Category 13 vehicles are usually rented in the event of a major fire campaign, however there are some Districts that maintain Category 13 vehicles. Category 14 vehicles are often found on farms. The remaining categories are seldom, if ever, used. Technical information on some of these tankers is available in the Tanker Information section of the service's website.
There are a number of water-based firefighting appliances (Category 15) within the RFS; these appliances are generally operated by brigades located in areas where the only available access is via water (e.g. communities along the Hawkesbury River of NSW).
Support Vehicles
Typical RFS Personnel carrier (PC)
The RFS utilises various support vehicles. These are categorised as follows:
★ Personnel Carriers. Generally a 4WD in the style of Toyota Landcruisers or Land Rover Defenders. In recent times this has been expanded to Toyota Hilux's and Nissan Navaras
★ Forward Control Vehicles. These mobile communications centres can range in size from small 4WD-type vehicles to bus-type vehicles.
★ Bulk Water Tankers to resupply appliances engaged in fire fighting activities.
★ Catering Units. Catering units vary in size from small trailers, to large fully-equipped mobile kitchen trucks. Catering Units are usually operated by specialist Catering Brigades
★ Lighting Units. Towed behind a personnel carrier, or other service vehicle. Used to light areas for night time operations such as Motor Vehicle Accidents.
Aviation
The Rural Fire Service also operates an Aviation Unit. The RFS owns one aircraft, a fixed wing "Firescan" aircraft used in mapping, monitoring and detecting fires. The Aviation Unit also contracts aircraft on a full time and on call basis in the role of supporting ground-based firefighting efforts, scouting fires, and spotting new fires. RFS Aviation has also been employed to assist during flood emergencies, such as the June 2005 floods in Northern NSW.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Each Rural Fire Service member is issued and equipped with the latest 'standards exceeding' safety equipment in order to undertake the varied and dangerous roles they are trained for, such PPE includes:
Minimum Issue
''For brigades with bushfire and village fire fighting roles, defensive only''
★ Bushfire Boots - hard toe boots, heat & chemical resistant
★ Bushfire Gloves - for radiant heat and sharp objects
★ Bushfire Helmet - lightweight head protection for radiant heat and falling trees/branches
★ Bushfire Two Piece Uniform - consists of gold/yellow jacket and pants with 3M triple reflective striping and RFS reflective back patch and sleeve insignia
★ Cold Climate Jacket (aka Turnout Coat) - Used in cold climates or overnight firefighting
★ Flash Hoods - for life threatening situations, ie; when in danger of being overrun by fire
Extended Issue
''For brigades with strong village roles, who are equipped with CABA (compressed air breathing apparatus) and perform offensive firefighting - list below is issued in addition to the above''
★ Structural Boots - steel capped boots
★ Structural Jacket and Over trousers - lime green in colour, worn by those entering a burning building for additional radiant heat protection
★ Structural Helmets - extra strength helmet, with corresponding extra weight
Optional Issue
★ Wet Weather gear - two piece bright yellow wet weather gear. Some regions will issue to each firefighter, other regions will only issue per seat per appliance.
Brigades of the NSW RFS
See Brigades of the NSW RFS
References
1.
Other references
★ NSW Rural Fire Service Corporate Plan 2006-2008[1]
See also
★ New South Wales Fire Brigades
★ Country Fire Service (South Australia)
★ Country Fire Authority (Victoria)
★ Section 44
★ STARG - State Tactical Assisted Resource Group
★ Remote Area Firefighting Team
★ Davidson Rural Fire Brigade
★ Beacon Hill Bushfire Brigade
★ Bushfire
★ Firefighting
External links
★ NSW Rural Fire Service Official Website
★ NSW Rural Fire Service Association
★ Peninsula Rural Fire Brigade Website
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