New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Volunteer firefighting agency

New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Seal

Flag

Operational area
Country| Australia
State and territory|

* New South Wales
* Jervis Bay Territory

Address| 4 Murray Rose Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park
Agency overview
Established| 1896; 129 years ago (1896)
Annual calls| 24,973 (FY 2022–23)
Annual budget| $786,526,000 (FY 2022–23)
Staffing|

* 1,240 (paid staff)
* 70,829 (voluntary members)

Commissioner| Rob Rogers AFSM
Motto| Prepare. Act. Survive
Facilities and equipment
Stations| 1,994
Engines| 74 Pumpers
Rescues| 12
Ambulances| CFR 7
Tenders| 43 Bulk Water
Wildland| 3,946 (4x4 and 4x2)
Airplanes| Three owned and various on contract.
Helicopters| Three owned and various on contract.
Fireboats| 32
Website
www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is a volunteer-based firefighting agency and statutory body of the Government of New South Wales.

The NSW RFS is responsible for fire protection to approximately 95% of the land area of New South Wales and the Jervis Bay Territory, while urban areas and over 90% of the population are the responsibility of Fire and Rescue NSW. The NSW RFS is the primary agency for responding to bushfires in the state. In addition, they respond to structural fires, vehicle fires, motor vehicle accidents and wide range of other emergencies, as well as providing preventative advice to local communities.

The NSW RFS is the world's largest volunteer fire service, with 71,234 volunteer members. They are organised into 1,994 brigades (local units). As of 30 June 2019[update], the service employed 936 paid staff who fulfil senior operational management and administrative roles. The agency attends to approximately 30,000 incidents per annum.[1]

The agency is led by its Commissioner, Rob Rogers AFSM, who reports to the Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience.

The NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA)[2] is the official representative association for both Volunteer and Salaried Members of the NSW RFS. In addition to facilitating advocacy at all levels of the RFS the RFSA also provides support for Brigades, Members and their families.

The NSW RFS was at the forefront of Australia's worst bushfire outbreak known as Black Summer (2019–20).

## History

[edit]

Prior to 1997, bushfire fighting services in New South Wales were essentially a patchwork of more than 200 separate fire fighting agencies working under a loose umbrella with no single chain of command. The core of the service, then as now, was the volunteer brigades that were organised along council district lines under the command of a locally appointed Fire Control Officer. Fire fighting efforts were funded by the Bush Fire Fighting Fund, established in 1949 and financed by insurance companies, local council and the State Government. A variety of State-run committees and councils oversaw bush fire operations with members drawn from various Government fire fighting agencies and council and volunteer representatives. These groups developed legislation and techniques but in the main responsibility for bushfire management was vested in individual local councils in dedicated bush fire areas as determined under the 1909 Fire Brigades Act. This Act proclaimed the areas serviced by the Board of Fire Commissioners (now Fire and Rescue NSW) and covered the urban areas of Sydney and Newcastle together with most regional and country towns of any significance.[3]

In January 1994, extreme weather conditions resulted in over 800 bush fires breaking out along the coast of NSW. More than 800,000 hectares (2,000,000 acres) of land and 205 homes were burnt. 120 people were injured and four people were killed, including a volunteer firefighter from the Wingello Bush Fire Brigade (seven were also injured). The financial cost of the disaster was estimated at $165 million. The lengthy Coronial Inquiry that followed recommended the State Government introduce a single entity responsible for the management of bush fires in NSW. The 1997 Rural Fires Act was proclaimed on 1 September, with Phil Koperberg announced as Commissioner. As Director-General of the Department of Bush Fire Services, Koperberg had been in command of the fire agencies battling the 1994 fires and was instrumental in developing the legislation that led to the Rural Fires Act.[4]

### Volunteer brigades, 1896–1936

[edit]

RFS memorial in Berrigan commemorating the establishment of the first bush fire brigade in New South Wales.

Organised control of bush fires began with the establishment of the first volunteer bush fire brigades at Berrigan in 1896.[5][6] This brigade had been established in response to a series of large fires in northern Victoria and south western New South Wales in the 1890s. These culminated in the Red Tuesday fire of 1 February 1898 in Gippsland that claimed 12 lives and destroyed 2000 buildings.[7]

In 1916 the Local Government Act provided for the prevention and mitigation of bush fires by authorising local councils to establish, manage and maintain these brigades.[8] The establishment of the Bush Fires Act in 1930 granted local councils the authority to appoint bush fire officers with powers comparable to those held by a Chief Officer of the NSW Fire Brigades.[9] These Fire Control Officers were responsible for bush fire management within their appointed local council districts.

### Bush Fire Advisory Committee, 1939–1948

[edit]

In September 1939 a conference of fire-fighting authorities was convened to discuss the prevention of bush fires during the summer months. The Bush Fire Advisory Committee was established to prevent and mitigate bush fires.[10] This committee had no statutory powers but publicised the need for the public to observe fire safety precautions and highlighted the role of Bush Fire Brigades. It was also largely responsible for preparing legislation that led to the Bush Fires Act of 1949.[11]

### Bush Fire Committee, 1949–1970

[edit]

The Bush Fires Act, 1949 came into effect on 9 December 1949.[12] This legislation consolidated and modernised the law relating to the prevention, control and suppression of bush fires, and gave councils and other authorities wider powers to protect the areas under their control. The system of bush fire brigades manned by volunteers and directed by their officers appointed by their local Councils continued but shire and district councils or Ministers could now appoint group captains to direct brigades formed by two adjoining councils.[13]

The Act also gave the Governor of NSW the authority to proclaim bush fire districts where none had previously been proclaimed. Essential to the legislation was the establishment of the Bush Fire Fighting Fund. This Fund was financed by insurance companies contributing half the funds with the remainder supplied equally by State and local government. The Act also enabled for the co-ordination of the activities of the Board of Fire Commissioners, the Forestry Commission (now State Forests) and the Bush Fire Brigades. The Minister for Local Government was empowered to appoint a person to take charge of all bush fire operations during a state of emergency.[13]

The Bush Fire Committee replaced the Bush Fire Advisory Committee and had 20 members representing NSW Government departments, local government, the insurance industry, the farming community, the Board of Fire Commissioners, and the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau. A Standing Committee composed of a chairman and five others met at least once a month.[13] Based in Sydney, the Bush Fire Committee advised the Chief Secretary and Minister for Local Government on all matters relating to bush fires, and generally co-ordinated the work of volunteer fire fighting groups and was responsible for community education relating to bush fires.[13]

The most significant bushfire in New South Wales during this period was the Southern Highlands (1965) bushfire.

### Bush Fire Council/Bush Fire Service, 1970–1997

[edit]

In 1970 the Bush Fire Committee was replaced by the Bush Fire Council,[14] with members drawn from the various fire fighting authorities from around the state. A special Co-ordinating Committee was established to oversee the co-ordination of fire-fighting and related resources prior to and during the bush fire season, and particularly during bush fire emergencies. A Chief Co-ordinator of Bush Fire Fighting was also appointed.[15]

In January 1975, the Bush Fires Branch of the NSW Chief Secretary's department integrated with the State Emergency Service and renamed the Bush Fire Service.[16]

The Department of Bush Fire Services was established in 1990. Brandon Leyba was appointed Director-General of the Department on 11 May.[17] The Department's main role was in co-ordinating the fire fighting activities of other government agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, State Forests of New South Wales, Sydney Water and the New South Wales Fire Brigades in emergency circumstances.[18] It was also responsible for the management and control of the NSW Bush Fire Fighting Fund and the co-ordination of the State's 2,500 Bush Fire Brigades,[19] however the brigades still remained under the direct control of local council.

Major bushfires during this period were in Far West NSW at Moolah-Corinya,[20][21][22][23] Cobar,[20][21][22][23] Balranald,[21][22][23] and across other parts of NSW (in 1974–1975),[24][25][26] Sydney (1979),[27] Waterfall (1980),[28] Grays Point (1983),[29] Western NSW grasslands (1984),[21][22][23] Cobar and across other parts of NSW (in 1984–1985),[21][22][23][24][25][26] and across Australia's eastern seaboard (1994).[30]

### NSW Rural Fire Service, 1997–present

[edit]

The former Rural Fire Service Headquarters situated on Carter Street, Lidcombe.

The NSW Rural Fire Service was established by the Rural Fires Act 1997 which was assented to on 10 July 1997 and came into force on 1 September 1997.[31] The Rural Fires Act repealed the Bush Fires Act, 1949 thereby dissolving the Bush Fire Council and its Committees. Members of these bodies ceased to hold office but were entitled to hold office on a replacing body.

The Rural Fire Service Advisory Council of New South Wales was established. The Council was to consist of nine representatives with a direct or indirect association with bush fire prevention and control; the Commissioner in charge of bush fire fighting services was ex-officio to be the Chairperson of the Council. The task of the Council was to advise and report to the Minister and Commissioner on any matter relating to the administration of rural fire services, and to advise the Commissioner on public education programs relating to rural fire matters, training of rural fire fighters, and on the issue of Service Standards.

A statutory body – the Bush Fire Co-ordinating Committee – also was established. This was to consist of 12 members including the Commissioner who was to act as Chairperson. The Committee was to be responsible for the administration of rural fires management as well as advising the Commissioner on bush fire prevention.

The Committee was to constitute a Bush Fire Management Committee for "the whole of the area of any local authority for which a rural fire district is constituted". Each Management Committee was to prepare and present to the Council a plan of operations and bush fire risk management plan for its area within three months of establishment. The former was to be reviewed every two years; the latter every five years.

Section 102 of the new act established the New South Wales Rural Fire Fighting Fund to replace the New South Wales Bush Fire Fighting Fund. Quarterly contributions from insurance companies, local councils and the Treasury were to continue in the same proportions as under previous legislation – 14% from the State Treasury, 73.7% from the insurance industry and 12.3% from local Councils.[32]

Major bushfires during this period were at Lithgow (1997),[33] Black Christmas (2001–02), Central Coast (2006), Junee (2006),[34][35] Pulletop (2006), Australian season (2006–07),[36][37][38][39][40][41] Warrumbungles (2013),[42] New South Wales (2013),[43][44][45] Carwoola (2017),[46] Tathra (2018),[47] and Black Summer (2019–20).[48]

## Structure

[edit]

Current NSW Rural Fire Service Headquarters situated on Murray Rose Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park NSW Rural Fire Service Training Academy in Dubbo

NSW RFS Headquarters is located at 4 Murray Rose Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park. It relocated to this location in November 2018 and was previously situated at Rosehill until October 2004. Separate directorates within NSW RFS Headquarters are responsible for Infrastructure Services, Membership and Strategic Services, Operations, and Finance and Executive Services.

Regional offices mirror these responsibilities at more centralised locations across the State. The original eight regions were consolidated into four by 2000, with the model changed to be seven Areas in 2019.[49]

These areas are as follows:

* North Eastern located at Coffs Harbour
* North Western located at Tamworth
* South Eastern at Moruya
* South Western at Albury
* Western located at Cowra
* Hunter located at Lake Macquarie
* Greater Sydney located at Glendenning

Formerly run by council-appointed officers, district Fire Control Centres became State controlled under the Rural Fires Act. District offices manage the day-to-day affairs of local brigades and maintain responsibility for local fire prevention and strategies. With the amalgamation of neighbouring districts over recent years, there are 47 NSW Rural Fire Service Districts.

Volunteer brigades are responsible for hands-on bush firefighting duties. Since the establishment of the Rural Fire Service, the role of brigades has gradually expanded to include disaster recovery, fire protection at motor vehicle accidents, search and rescue operations and increased levels of structural firefighting. There are more than 2,000 firefighting brigades[50] and more than 50 catering and communications brigades providing support.

## Senior officers

[edit]

### Commissioner

[edit]

The most senior member of the organisation is the Commissioner.

The first NSW RFS Commissioner was Phil Koperberg, who was previously the Director-General of the NSW Department of Bushfire Services since its creation in 1990. In 2007 he stepped down as Commissioner after announcing his candidature for the 2007 state election in which he was elected as the Member for Blue Mountains. In September 2007 Shane Fitzsimmons was officially appointed NSW RFS Commissioner. In May 2020, Shane Fitzsimmons commenced in the role of Commissioner of Resilience NSW. Rob Rogers was appointed to the role of Acting Commissioner on 1 May 2020, before being permanently appointed on 16 July.[51]

Ordinal  | Name  | Title  | Term start  | Term end  | Time in office  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | Phil Koperberg AO, AFSM, BEM | Commissioner | 1 September 1997 (1997-09-01) | 12 January 2007 (2007-01-12) | 9 years, 133 days | [31][52][53]
2 | Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM | 18 September 2007 (2007-09-18) | 30 April 2020 (2020-04-30) | 17 years, 127 days | [54]
3 | Rob Rogers AFSM | 16 July 2020 (2020-07-16) | incumbent | 4 years, 191 days | [51]

### Deputy Commissioner

[edit]

Name  | Title  | Term start  | Term end  | Time in office  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Rob Rogers AFSM | Deputy Commissioner | 18 September 2007 | 16 July 2020 | 12 years, 346 days |
Bruce McDonald AFSM | 25 November 2020 | May 2021 |  |
Peter McKechnie | 15 March 2021 | Incumbent |  |
Kyle Stewart | 2021 | Incumbent |  |

### Senior Assistant Commissioner

[edit]

Within the NSW RFS, the head of one of the functional area aligned Directorates within Headquarters is given the corporatised designation Executive Director.

Two of the current Executive Directors are uniformed personnel with a rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner. The Executive Director, Operational Services holds the rank of Deputy Commissioner and the Executive Director, Infrastructure Services holds the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner. Non-operational Executive Directors do not currently hold operational ranks.

The operational rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner was removed as of the 14th of June 2022.[55]

Name  | Title  | Term start  | Term end  | Time in office  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Anthony Gates | Senior Assistant Commissioner | 1997 | 1998 |  |
Bruce McDonald AFSM | 2015 | 2020 |  |

### Assistant Commissioners

[edit]

Currently the Commissioner has determined that certain occupiers of the role of Director have been appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner. Previously, subject to the various executive structures in place, the rank of Assistant Commissioner was held by operational Executive Directors / Directors.

Assistant Commissioners  | Term start  | Term end

|
|

Ross Smith | 1997 | 2002
Mark Crosweller AFSM | 1997 | 2009
Anthony Howe AFSM | 1999 | 2006
Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM | 1999 | 2007
Rob Rogers AFSM | 2002 | 2011
Keith Harrap AFSM | 2004 | 2012
Dominic Lane AFSM | 2008 | 2013
Bruce McDonald AFSM | 2013 | 2015
Jason Heffernan | 2015 | 2020
Steve Yorke AFSM | 2014 | incumbent
Stuart Midgley AFSM | 2014 | incumbent
Rebel Talbert | 2015 | incumbent
Kelly Quandt (nee Browne) AFSM | 2018 | incumbent
Ben Millington  | 2021  | incumbent

### Executive Directors

[edit]

In addition to the Commissioner, there are four Executive Directors who make up the senior executive of the Service. These Executive Directors have responsibility for Preparedness & Capability (presently Kyle Stewart), Technology, Finance & Legal (presently Stephen O'Malley), People & Strategy (presently Trina Schmidt), and Field Operations (presently Peter McKechnie).[when?][citation needed]

## Ranks and Sections

[edit]

### Operational

[edit]

#### Joining

[edit]

Members of the public who wish to join the NSW RFS will complete an expression of interest on the RFS website.[56]

#### Support Roles

[edit]

Not all roles require being a fire fighter or having any qualifications. Support roles include but not excluded to:

* Aviation – Aerial firefighting and related activities. Air base support and related activities. See more in the Aviation section.
* Bush Firefighter Support – Supporting in a non-firefighting role under supervision.
* Catering – Preparing food for RFS activities.
* Chaplaincy – Providing spiritual support and other religious services.
* Communication – Working within a Fire Communications Centre or Fire Control Centre (FCC). Note that only a Fire Control Centre is an "FCC", and is also an RFS zone headquarters.
* Community Engagement – Providing members of the public with information, skills and resources on RFS related activities including bush fires and other emergency incidents.
* Trainer/assessor – Assisting RFS members with completing the required competencies to gain qualifications.[57]

Operational Rank  | Membership Type  | Insignia

|
|

Commissioner  | NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer  |
Deputy Commissioner  | NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer  |
Assistant Commissioner  | NSW Government Senior Executive Service Officer  |
Chief Superintendent  | NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Superintendent  | NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Inspector  | NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Group Captain/Officer L3  | Volunteer/NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Deputy Group Captain/Officer L2  | Volunteer/NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Officer L1  | NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Captain  | Volunteer  |
Senior Deputy Captain  | Volunteer  |
Deputy Captain  | Volunteer  |
Mitigation Crew Leader  | NSW Government Public Service Officer  |
Firefighter  | Volunteer  |
Member (no qualifications)  | Volunteer  |

## Equipment

[edit]

The RFS operates a broad range of firefighting equipment including:[58]

### Appliances

[edit]

Category 1 Tanker Category 10 Pumper Toyota Land Cruiser Category 9 Striker

Firefighting appliances used within the RFS are identified with a red and white livery, with either red & white or red & yellow reflective chevrons.[59] Appliances are also equipped with red and blue emergency lights and sirens.[60]

The most common of appliances are tankers, of which the most common of tankers are Category 1 Tankers, which is mainly used in a combination of rural and urban/interface roles ('interface' meaning where built-up areas meet bushland). The next most common fire appliances are Category 7 tankers which are used to support heavier appliances in fire fighting operations as well as being a primary appliance themselves. Category 9 appliances are most often used as rapid intervention vehicles (thus the name 'Striker') to attack small and spot fires quickly before they are able to spread.

Category 2, 3 and 4 tankers are less common, due to the flexibility of Category 1 tankers. Category 10 and 11 urban pumpers can be found in many brigades with dedicated urban responsibilities. Appliances are categorised as follows:

Category  | Description  | Capacity

|
|

Sub-category | Cab size | Drive wheels
1  | Heavy Tanker  | Village, Grasslands,

Multi-Purpose

| Single, Crew  | 4x2, 4x4  | 3,000–4,000 litres (660–880 imp gal)
5  | Multi-Purpose  | Single  | 4x4  | 9000 litres (1980 imp gal)
6  | Heavy Bush Tanker  | Single  | 6x4, 6x6
2  | Medium Tanker  | Multi-Purpose  | Crew  | 4x4, 4x2  | 1,600–3,000 litres (350–660 imp gal)
Grasslands  | Single  | 4x4, 6x6
7  | Light Tanker  | Light tanker  | Crew  | 4x2, 4x4  | 800–1,600 litres (180–350 imp gal)
Single  | 4x2,4x4, 6x6
9  | Striker  | Striker  | Single, Crew  | 4x4  | Less than 800 litres (180 imp gal)
10  | Pumper  | Village, Medium Pumper  | Crew  | 4x2  | More than 1,600 litres (350 imp gal)
11  | Village, Medium Pumper  | 4x4  | More than 1,600 litres (350 imp gal)
13  | Bulk Water Carrier  | Bulk Water Carrier  | Single, Crew  | 4x2, 6x4, 8x4  | Approximately 11,000 litres (about 2500 imp gal)
Bulk Water Trailer
15  | Fire Boat  | Fire Boat  | None
16  | Operational
Command Vehicle  | Light vehicles, 4WD's, buses  | None
14  | Tanker Trailer  | Tanker trailer, small  | N/A  | N/A  | Less than 800 litres (180 imp gal)
Tanker trailer, large  | More than 800 litres (180 imp gal)
Pump trailer  | N/A
12  | Personnel Carrier/

Deputy Group/

Group Officer Vehicle

| 4WD's  | Crew  | 4x4  | None
Bus  | Various  | Various

### Support vehicles

[edit]

The NSW RFS uses various support vehicles. These are categorised as follows:

* Personnel Carriers. Generally a 4WD in the style of the Toyota Landcruiser or Land Rover Defender. In recent times this has been expanded to include the Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Volkswagen Amarok, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford Ranger.
* Operational Command 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, however, zones or brigades may operate their own catering units.
* Lighting Towers. Towed behind a personnel carrier, or other service vehicle. Used to light areas for night time operations such as Motor Vehicle Accidents.
* Boats. Either moored in the water or towed behind a personnel carrier, or other service vehicle. Used in firefighting operations on the water

### Aviation

[edit]

The NSW Rural Fire Service operates an Aviation Unit and owns the largest Firefighting Aircraft fleet in Australia. The NSW RFS owns a Boeing 737 Air Tanker, two Citation jets as well as six helicopters, including a Chinook. It also contracts a number of aircraft for firefighting water-bombing, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and transportation. The NSW RFS aircraft continue to be upgraded with additional camera technology and night vision capability.

* Bell 412 (VH-VJD)

* Cessna 560 Citation V (VH-VJT) Fire Scan 200

* Boeing CH-47D Chinook (N47CU) Helitak 211

* Boeing 737-300 (Large Air Tanker) (N138CG)

* Beechcraft King Air 350CER (VH-NAO) Fire Scan 202

### Personal Protective Clothing/Equipment (PPC/E)

[edit]

Each NSW Rural Fire Service member is issued and equipped with the latest safety equipment including RFS uniform and bush firefighting. Extra equipment is provided when a member achieves additional qualifications including Breathing Apparatus Operator (BAO), Crew/Group Leader (C/GL), aviation operations and most specialist qualifications.[57]

## Representative Association

[edit]

Both Volunteer and Salaried Members are represented and supported by the NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA), which is recognised within the NSW Rural Fires Act 1997 as the official representative body. The NSW RFSA was established following both representatives of the now defunct Fire Control Officers Association (FCOA) and Volunteers coming together to establish a state wide organisation which could represent both Volunteers and Staff. Since establishment, the RFSA has been instrumental in putting in place a large consultative network and today have representation on both statutory and consultative committees at all levels of the RFS.[61] The RFSA has a large number of assistance programs that support Volunteers and Staff as well as their families. These include:

* sponsorship
* scholarships
* welfare fund
* grant scheme
* young members group
* Chaplaincy, Counselling & Family support[62]

## Recognition

[edit]

Since its formation, the NSW Rural Fire Service and its personnel have been recognised in a variety of ways.

### Internal Honours and Awards

[edit]

#### Commissioner's Award for Valour

[edit]

Since 2000, the following three firefighters have been awarded the Commissioner's Medal of Valour – the highest internal award – for "acts of conspicuous courage involving exceptional bravery under circumstances of great peril where there has been a clear and significant risk to life."[63]

* 2000: Deputy Captain David Quinlivan (posthumously), for sacrificing his life to save his crew during the 1998 Wingello Fires.
* 2000: Michael Young for valour during the same incident.
* 2012: Deputy Captain Kendall Thompson, for the heli-rescue of 45 civilians during the 2010-2011 Queensland Floods.

In addition to the Commissioner's Medal of Valor, Thompson was further awarded the Benjamin Franklin Fire Service Award for Valor, and awards from the Royal Life Saving Society Australia and the Royal Humane Society of Australasia.

#### Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery

[edit]

Further to the Medal of Valor, the Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery recognises "an act of courage under hazardous circumstances where the risk to life has not been as significant as to warrant the Commissioner's Award for Valour but is worthy of recognition."[63]

#### Commissioner's Commendation for Service

[edit]

Similarly, the Commissioner's Commendation for Service recognises "service of a meritorious nature, or outstanding actions in relation to fire service duties, administrative leadership, or exemplary performance of a specific difficult project or task, not involving bravery."[63]

### External Honours and Awards

[edit]

#### National Honours System

[edit]

In addition to internal honours and awards, personnel are additionally eligible for the Australian Fire Service Medal under the Australian honours and awards system.

#### NSW Premier's Bushfire Emergency Citation

[edit]

Parallel to the Australian honours system, the Premier of New South Wales instituted the NSW Premier's Bushfire Emergency Citation for frontline service during the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.

### NSW Rural Fire Service Memorial – Dubbo

[edit]

On 5 August 2022, a Memorial Garden at the State Training Academy in Dubbo dedicated to those NSW RFS members and contractors who died in the line of duty was unveiled. [64]

The Memorial Garden design consists of two semi-circular memorial walls encompassing a bronze statue of a NSW RFS firefighter leaning on a rakehoe and a bronze propeller blade replica from Bomber 134 which crashed near Cooma in 2020. It lists the names of NSW RFS members and contractors who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The memorial was established under a partnership between the NSW Rural Fire Service Association and NSW Rural Fire Service who jointly funded the construction.

## See also

[edit]

* New South Wales portal

* Fire and Rescue NSW
* Country Fire Service (South Australia)
* Country Fire Authority (Victoria)
* NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
* Section 44 (New South Wales)
* Remote Area Firefighting Team
* Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council

## References

[edit]

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "New South Wales Rural Fire Service" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

1. ^ "Fast Facts" (PDF). NSW Rural Fire Service. 30 June 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
2. ^ "RFSA – Rural Fire Service Association".
3. ^ for an extensive list of regional and country locations covered by the early NSWFB, see Board of Fire Commissioners 1914 Annual Report, Appendix VIII p.13.
4. ^ "History: 1980–1997: Proclamation of the Rural Fires Act 1997". NSW Rural Fire Service. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
5. ^ . Vol. 2 (4th ed.). Sydney: The Grolier Society of Australia. 1983. p. 137. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help); Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
6. ^ "About Us". NSW Rural Fire Service.
7. ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment – Major Bushfires in Victoria Archived 23 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ NSW Local Government Act. (No. 41, 1919) Section 494
9. ^ NSW Bush Fires Act (No. 14, 1930) Section 4
10. ^ Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales Report for y/e 31 March 1937 p. 3 in NSW PP 1938-39-40 vol. 17 pp. 1063–1101
11. ^ Concise Guide 2nd edition 1992 A-Cl "Bush Fire Council" p. 68
12. ^ NSWGG 1949 vol. 2 p. 3660
13. ^ a b c d "Agency: Bush Fire Committee". State Archives & Records. Government of New South Wales. 1970. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
14. ^ NSWGG 1970 vol. 2 p. 2110
15. ^ Bush Fires Act (No.25, 1970) s. 398
16. ^ "Report of the Bush Fire Council of NSW". 1975 in NSWPP 1976-77-78. 1 (7): 953–987.953-987&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:New+South+Wales+Rural+Fire+Service" class="Z3988">
17. ^ NSWGG 1990 vol. 2 part 1 p. 3775
18. ^ Department of Bush Fire Services Annual Report for y/e 30 June 1996 p.8
19. ^ NSW Government Directory June 1996 18th edition p. 162
20. ^ a b "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales". Newspapers.com. 21 December 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
21. ^ a b c d e Mac Dougall, I D (2003). "A National User-Driven approach towards a coordinated Fire Research Program" (PDF). The Australian Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre Program. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
22. ^ a b c d e "Bush Fires / Wild Fires – Australian Bushfire History". australiasevereweather.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
23. ^ a b c d e "Our Service's story" (PDF). NSW RFS Bush Fire Bulletin Souvenir Liftout 2010 Part Two. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
24. ^ a b Ellis, Kanowski & Whelan (2004). COAG National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 341\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
25. ^ a b 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. 2010. p. 347\. ISBN 978-0-9807408-1-3.
26. ^ a b "Bushfires in NSW: timelines and key sources" (PDF). NSW Parliament Issues Backgrounder Number 6. NSW Parliamentary Research Service. June 2014.
27. ^ "Bushfire – Sydney and Region:1 December 1979". Attorney-General's Department (Australia). Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
28. ^ "1979 – 1980, Sydney and Region bushfire". Ministry for Police and Emergency Services. 18 September 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
29. ^ Mutton, Sheree (9 January 2014). "Shire fire horror still lingers 20 years on". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
30. ^ "Bushfires – Get the Facts Archived 16 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine". Attorney-General's Department. Retrieved 9 January 2013
31. ^ a b NSWGG 1997 No. 95 29 August 1997 p. 6644
32. ^ Rural Fires Act (No. 65, 1997) Sections 100, 105, 109 & 111
33. ^ "Some past bushfires in Australia". Northern Daily Leader. 10 February 2009. p. 3.
34. ^ "Bushfire threat eases in NSW". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
35. ^ "Generous support coming in for farmers affected by bushfires". NSW Department of Primary Industries. New South Wales Government. 6 January 2006. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
36. ^ Kennedy, Les; David Braithwaite; Edmund Tadros (22 November 2006). "Man dies as early bushfire season grips NSW". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
37. ^ "Authorities investigate forestry worker's death". ABC News. 14 January 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
38. ^ Morton, Adam; Orietta Guerrera; Bridie Smith (15 December 2006). "Bushfires claim first life". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
39. ^ Switzer, Renee (18 January 2007). "One dead in SA bushfire". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
40. ^ "Body found in fire wreckage". ABC News. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
41. ^ "Woman fleeing bushfire burnt to death". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
42. ^ Van de Wetering, Jodie (11 March 2013). "A timeline of the Coonabarabran bushfires". ABC (Western Plains). Retrieved 22 October 2013.
43. ^ "Update – Damage assessment and fire investigation" (PDF) (Press release). New South Wales Rural Fire Service. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
44. ^ "Watch and Act – Linksview Road Fire, Springwood (Blue Mountains) 19/10/13 11:40". NSW Rural Fire Service. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
45. ^ Madden, James. "Firestorm destroys NSW communities as hundreds of homes could be lost". The Australian. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
46. ^ Le Lievre, Kimberley; Groch, Sherryn; Brown, Andrew (18 February 2017). "Police investigate blaze near Queanbeyan as fire crews battle on". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
47. ^ "Bushfire in Tathra wipes out 69 homes, residents still unable to return to NSW south coast town". ABC News. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
48. ^ "How extreme conditions drove Australia's record bushfire disaster - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
49. ^ "Change Management Plan: Area Management Model" (PDF). Public Service Association of NSW. New South Wales Rural Fire Service. July 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
50. ^ About Us – NSW Rural Fire Service. Rfs.nsw.gov.au (1 September 1997). Retrieved 29 October 2013.
51. ^ a b "Rob Rogers to become new RFS Commissioner". www.rfs.nsw.gov.au (Press release). Retrieved 6 April 2020.
52. ^ Pearlman, Jonathan (2 November 2006). "Fire Chief Seeks Labor Seat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
53. ^ "Koperberg starts political career". ABC News. Australia. 12 January 2007.[permanent dead link‍]
54. ^ "Shane Fitzsimmons leaves RFS with 'trepidation' but will continue serve state as Resilience NSW Commissioner". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
55. ^ McKechnie, Peter (14 June 2022). "SERVICE STANDARD 1.2.1 - NSW RFS RANKING AND RANK INSIGNIA" (PDF). New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
56. ^ "Volunteering in the NSW RFS". www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
57. ^ a b "Training". www.rfs.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
58. ^ "SERVICE STANDARD5.1.7APPLIANCE AND VEHICLE CATEGORY DETAILS" (PDF). RFS website. 13 July 2016.
59. ^ "NSW RFS - Service Standard 8.1.2 Vehicle Marking and Identification" (PDF). NSW RFS.
60. ^ "Service Standard 8.1.2 Vehicle Marking and Identification" (PDF). NSW Rural Fire Service. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
61. ^ "Vol. 27 No. 1, (2005)".
62. ^ RFSA https://www.rfsa.org.au/about-us/
63. ^ a b c Internal Bravery and Service Awards (PDF). New South Wales Rural Fire Service. p. 9\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
64. ^ "Opening of the NSW RFS Memorial Garden".

### Other references

[edit]

* "NSW Rural Fire Service Corporate Plan 2006–2008" (PDF). NSW Rural Fire Service. 2006.[permanent dead link‍]

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to New South Wales Rural Fire Service at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website
* NSW Rural Fire Service Association

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