 | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 November 2013 |
| Jurisdiction | Queensland Government |
| Headquarters | Kedron, Queensland, Australia |
| Employees |
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| Minister responsible |
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| Department executives |
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| Child agencies |
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| Website | qfes |
The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) is the primary provider of fire and emergency services in Queensland, Australia. QFD was established in July 2024 and has committed to adopting an "all hazards" approach to emergency management.[1] The headquarters are located at the Emergency Services Complex in Kedron, Brisbane.
In 2021, personnel included 2,200 full-time professional firefighters and 2,000 on-call auxiliary firefighters, and approximately 28,000 Rural Fire Service volunteers and approximately 5100 State Emergency Service volunteers. QFD front-line operations are supported by non-operational administration staff located throughout Queensland.[2]
The Queensland Government minister responsible for QFD is the Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery, currently the Honourable Nikki Boyd, .[3]
History[edit]
On 1 November 2013, the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service merged with Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) and the Corporate Services Division of the Department of Community Safety to become the QFES, encompassing Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, parts of the State Emergency Service, Emergency Management and the Rural Fire Service.[citation needed]
In October 2022, following a review by State Disaster Coordinator Steve Gollschewski, it was decided QFES would be dissolved in June 2024. The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service along with the Rural Fire Service would form the Queensland Fire Department, with a new central headquarters.[4][5]
On Monday 3 June 2024 with their own chief officers, the State Emergency Service (SES) was moved to the Queensland Police Service; along with the Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Queensland, becoming part of the new Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ).[4][6][7][8]
The QFD headquarters will be located at 240 Sandgate Road, Albion,Brisbane, with a 2025 opening date.[5]
Organisation[edit]
QFD is an agency which is comprised of two separate primary agencies that together provide fire and rescue services to the entire state of Queensland. The two organisations are Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR), and Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ).
The operational element of QFR is made up of both full time firefighters and part time auxiliary firefighters, as well as volunteer scientific staff.
QFR stations are primarily located in urban areas and towns and their primary duty is responding to structural fires and road traffic crashes (RTCs) as they are equipped with the specialist equipment required for this. They also respond to bushfires within urban parks and in rural areas to support RFSQ brigades. They also respond to hazardous materials and technical rescues and work closely to support the Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Police Service, and SES in their duties as well. Scientific crews primarily deal with hazardous materials and biological hazard calls.
The operational element of RFSQ is made up of entirely volunteer personnel. The RFSQ also employs a number of paid staff to support both operational and administrative duties of the agency.
RFSQ brigades make up the majority of the state’s QFD coverage. They are mainly located in rural and remote areas of the state. Primarily, RFSQ responds to bushfires and carries out hazard reduction burns and community education programs regarding fire safety. Some brigades also are road crash rescue certified and carry the equipment necessary to respond to RTCs. Brigades may also receive animal rescue training. They work closely with all state and national emergency agencies, other government organisations with firefighting capabilities, contractors, and landholders in all of their duties.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service[edit]
Since the merger of the fire boards in 1990, the Queensland state firefighting agency has operated under several names:
- Queensland Fire Service 1990–1997
- Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority 1997–2001
- Queensland Fire and Rescue Service 2001–present
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service is made up of approximately 2200 professional and 2000 auxiliary (on-call) firefighters, responsible for responding to most emergencies. Becoming a Queensland Fire and Rescue Service firefighter involves a selection process, after which successful candidates undertake a four-month recruitment course. Recruits then go on to complete study and training in all disciplines of rescue, wildfires, structural fires and major emergencies.[citation needed]
Rural Fire Service[edit]
- Rural Fire Board 1927–1931
- Rural Fire Board 1948–1990
- Rural Fire Service Queensland 1990–present
The first Rural Fire Board was established in 1927 with the Rural Fires Act of 1927 (Qld), and suspended in 1931 due to the Great Depression. The boards were re-established in 1948, and merged with the Department of Emergency Services in 1990, becoming the Rural Fire Service (RFS). In 2014, the RFS was merged into the QFES.[9]
Fire prevention and rescue[edit]
Queensland's firefighters undertake a range of planning and preparation activities throughout the year, including structural firefighting, wildland (forest and grassland) fires, vertical rescue, swift water rescue, road crash rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, urban search and rescue (USAR) and hazardous material mitigation. Response to vegetation fires and mitigation of the hazards vegetation fires pose (known as hazard reduction burns) are the primary role of the Rural Fire Service, especially in areas outside of the jurisdiction of Fire and Rescue stations, whereas other aforementioned tasks are generally the responsibility of the paid Fire and Rescue departments located in urban centres. Rural Fire Brigades and Rural Fire Service paid staff undertake various planning and preparation activities alongside Fire and Rescue Service firefighters from nearby urban communities, local councils, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers, and local landholders. These activities ensure that communities are prepared for the fire season. One of these activities is hazard reduction burns. Hazard reduction burns use fire under controlled circumstances to reduce excess vegetation and minimise the potential for bushfires to spread.[citation needed]
Community education[edit]
QFD firefighters visit schools and engage in a range of community education activities to prepare the community for emergencies. The Rural Fire Service, as a community-oriented agency, also engages in many community education activities. Volunteer Community Educators (VCEs) are a specifically trained role within the Rural Fire Service that helps community members and organisations apply for community education events, plans the events, and presents and runs them. However, non-VCE volunteers also take on these roles alongside VCEs, or when a brigade does not have a trained VCE.[citation needed]
Permits to light fire[edit]
The Fire and Emergency Services Regulation 2011 (Qld) regulates the use of fire by not allowing fires to be lit without a specific permit. Fire wardens and authorised fire officers manage the permit to light fire system. A permit to light fire is required for any fire that exceeds 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in any direction and can be acquired free of charge from a fire warden. Local rural fire brigades can provide information on obtaining and completing a permit to light fire, provide the permit for the landowner to complete (especially if the local fire warden is part of the local brigade, as is often the case), and can also aid in carrying out the burn. QFD relies heavily on the permit to light fire system to prevent unnecessary calls from concerned residents and unnecessary dispatching of firefighters. Permits to light fire also help promote fire safety and prevent fires from burning out of control.[citation needed]
Fighting bushfires[edit]
RFSQ volunteers respond to the outbreak of fires within their local area, as well as in surrounding areas to support other rural fire brigades, QFR crews, and other government agencies with firefighting capabilities such as local councils, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), and HQ Plantations.
In urban areas, or where QFR stations are closer to a fire than RFSQ brigades, QFR may be the primary responding agency to a bushfire instead of RFSQ.
Similarly, in national parks and state forests, QPWS and HQ Plantations may be the primary responding agency respectfully.
Deployments and assistance during disasters[edit]
All elements of QFD are often sent on deployment to assist other Australian states during disasters, as well as assisting other regions within Queensland. QFD personnel (both paid and volunteer) and specialised teams (such as the DART USAR team) may also be deployed nationally or internationally for major disaster operations, such as wildfires or landslides.[citation needed]
Leadership[edit]
The following list chronologically records those who have held the post of Commissioner of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.
| Period served | Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services | ||||||
| 2014–2015 | Lee Johnson, AFSM | Formerly Commissioner of Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS). | ||||
| 2015 – 5 June 2019 | Katarina Carroll, APM | Formerly Assistant Commissioner in the Queensland Police Service. | ||||
| 2 December 2019 – 3 October 2023 | Greg Leach, AFSM | Former Deputy Chief Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Melbourne). Previous Commissioner of Tasmania Ambulance. | ||||
| 3 October 2023 – 1 July 2024 | Steven Smith, AFSM | Appointed acting commissioner from 3 October 2023. | ||||
| Commissioner, Queensland Fire Department | ||||||
| 1 July 2024 – present | Steven Smith, AFSM | |||||
The following have held the position of commissioner and later deputy commissioner of the QFRS.
| Period served | Name | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner, Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority | ||||||
| 1997–2001 | Wayne Hartley, AFSM | Formerly Director of the Queensland Ambulance Service. | ||||
| Commissioner, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service | ||||||
| 2001–2002 | Wayne Hartley, AFSM | Formerly Commissioner, Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority | ||||
| 2002–2014 | Lee Johnson, AFSM | |||||
| Deputy Commissioner, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service | ||||||
| 2023–present | Kevin Walsh, AFSM | |||||
Ranks and structure[edit]
The QFD employs both full time paid firefighters and on-call paid auxiliary firefighters in QFR to staff its urban fire and rescue stations.
The QFD also employs paid staff and over 28000 volunteers in RFSQ to cover rural and remote areas of the state.
Alongside epaulette ranks, Queensland Fire and Rescue firefighters, auxiliaries, and Rural Fire Service paid staff and volunteers also have different helmet colours to identify rank, however they are somewhat limited, with multiple ranks sharing similar or identical helmet colours and/or markings.
| Queensland Fire & Rescue Service | Rural Fire Service Queensland | Helmet colour |
|---|---|---|
|
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Black |
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Red |
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Blue |
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Yellow |
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White |
Ranks of Queensland Fire and Rescue are:
Queensland Fire and Rescue – Full-Time Firefighters[edit]
- 4th Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE"
- 3rd Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and single chevron
- 2nd Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double chevron
- 1st Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple chevron
- Senior Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", triple chevron and gold crossed axes
- Leading Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", "LEADING FIREFIGHTER" with triple chevron and gold crossed axes – as of 2019, this rank is being phased out
- Station Officer – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double impeller
- Inspector – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple impeller
- Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", single impeller and crown
- Chief Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", double impeller and crown
- Assistant Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", crossed branches with laurels
- Deputy Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", crossed branches with laurels and a single impeller
- Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels and a single crown
Queensland Fire and Rescue Auxiliary Firefighters[edit]
- Auxiliary Support – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and 'AUXILIARY SUPPORT'
- Firefighter – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' (Grade 1 & 2)
- Firefighter (5 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with single bar
- Firefighter (10 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with double bar
- Firefighter (15 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with triple bar
- Lieutenant – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and single impeller
- Captain – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and double impeller
Fire Communications[edit]
- Fire Communications Officer 1.1 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS" and lightning bolt
- Fire Communications Officer 1.2 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", a single chevron and lightning bolt
- Fire Communications Officer 1.3 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", two chevrons and lightning bolt
- Fire Communications Officer 1.4 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", three chevrons and lightning bolt
- Fire Communications Officer 1.5 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", three chevrons, lightning bolt and single bar
- Fire Communications Supervisor – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", double impeller and lightning bolt
- Fire Communications Manager – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", triple impeller and lightning bolt
Fire and Rescue Scientific Branch[edit]
Volunteers[edit]
- Volunteer Scientific Officer – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC'
- Volunteer Scientific Officer (5 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with single bar
- Volunteer Scientific Officer (10 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with double bar
- Volunteer Scientific Officer (15 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with triple bar
Volunteers (Brisbane-based)[edit]
- Scientific Support Officer – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC'
- Scientific Support Officer (5 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with single bar
- Scientific Support Officer (10 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with double bar
- Scientific Support Officer (15 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with triple bar
Senior officers[edit]
- Inspector – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple impeller
- Superintendent – lack epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and single impeller and crown
- Chief Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double impeller and crown
Rural Fire Service Queensland (Paid and non-paid staff)[edit]
Volunteers[edit]
- Member – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS'
- Firefighter – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single bar
- Senior Firefighter – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double bar
- Crew Leader – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and triple bar
- Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single impeller
- 1st Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller
Representational positions[edit]
- Deputy Group Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single impeller with bar
- Group Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller with bar
Staff (paid)[edit]
- Rural Officer 1 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' with single impeller
- Rural Officer 2 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' with double impeller
- Rural Inspector – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and triple impeller
- Rural Superintendent – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' single impeller and crown
- Assistant Chief Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller and crown
- Deputy Chief Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and wreath with crossed branches
- Chief Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and wreath with crossed branches and single impeller
Honors and awards[edit]
Medals[edit]
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service medals and ribbons are worn in accordance with the order of precedence below, from centre to right. The award with the highest precedence is worn closest to the centre of the chest and on the top row of ribbon bars when more than four awards are worn.[10]
|
Commissioner's Medal for Valour |
|
Commissioner's Distinguished Service Medal |
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Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery |
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Commissioner's Meritorious Service Award |
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Diligent And Ethical Service Medal |
|
QFES Medal |
|
SES Meritorious Service Medal |
Citations[edit]
Citations are worn centrally, 5 mm above the nameplate on the right breast pocket of service shirts, tunics and coats. The order of precedence for citations is :[10]
| Commissioner's Unit Citation | ||
|
G20 Citation | Awarded for service during the 2014 G20 Brisbane summit |
|
2010–2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation | Awarded for service during one or more natural disasters: Cyclone Tasha, Cyclone Yasi, and 2010–11 Queensland floods |
|
XXI Commonwealth Games Citation | Awarded for service during the XXI Commonwealth Games 2018 |
Administrative regions[edit]
Queensland is split into seven regions for administrative purposes with each assigned a region number.
| Region Number | Region Name |
|---|---|
| Region 1 | Northern Region |
| Region 2 | Central Region |
| Region 3 | South Western Region |
| Region 4 | North Coast Region |
| Region 5 | Brisbane Region |
| Region 6 | South Eastern Region |
| Region 7 | Far Northern Region |
Each region is further divided into several commands or areas with an area office, usually a large station or dedicated building. For example, Caloundra Command has an area office at Caloundra Fire and Rescue Station, while Caboolture Command has a dedicated office.
As of July 1st 2024, the QFD is adopting a four region model. The regions will be as follows:
| Region Number | Region Name |
|---|---|
| Region 1 | Northern Region |
| Region 2 | Central Region |
| Region 3 | Southern/South Western Region |
| Region 4 | Greater Brisbane/South Eastern Region |
Station numbers and call signs[edit]
Fire and Rescue[edit]
Fire and Rescue stations are numbered by the region and command it's located in, followed by third digit.
For example, Station 482 (Caloundra) is situated in North Coast Region (see above), Caloundra Command, Station 2.
FRS appliance callsigns are formulated with the station number and a letter denoting the type of appliance.
| Letter | Appliance Type |
|---|---|
| A | Pumper with firefighting and rescue capability |
| B | As per Alpha |
| C/D | Pumper with no rescue capability |
| E | 4WD pumper with firefighting or SWR capability |
| I | Hydraulic platform with aerial rescue and firefighting capability |
| J | Combined Aerial Pumper Appliance |
| K | Emergency Tender with rescue capability |
| L | Rescue vehicle with technical rescue and swift water rescue capability |
| S | Operational Support Unit with HAZMAT and BA support |
| V | Water Tanker |
| Y | 4WD Light Attack vehicle with firefighting capability, that can be equipped with SWR |
Rural Fire Service[edit]
RFS brigades are named by their locality. For example, Landsborough Rural Fire Brigade, Ilkley and District RFB and Maleny RFB.
RFS callsigns are formulated with the brigade name appended with the number of appliance.
| Number | Type |
|---|---|
| 15-24 | Firefighting Trailer |
| 25-29 | Slip-On Unit |
| 35-39 | Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) |
| 41-49 | Light Attack |
| 51-59 | Medium Attack |
| 61-69 | Heavy Attack |
| 71-79 | Water Tanker |
| 81-89 | Support Vehicle |
| 91-99 | Command Vehicle |
If a brigade has multiple of one type, the last digit is increased by one, for example Ilkley and District 51 and 52.
In addition, region offices have a surplus of appliances which brigades can apply to use at any time, for any period of time. They follow the same number system, but with a three letter regional code proceeding it. For example, SER54 - this is the fourth surplus medium attack vehicle in the South East Region office.
These surplus regional appliances, though typically being borrowed for general use by a brigade, are essential for deployments to major fires in the region, allowing for more appliances to be available to local brigades, or for Rural Fire Service crews deployed from elsewhere in Queensland.
The call signs for Firefighting trailers and slip-on units are primarily only used by remote brigades. Slip-on units and firefighting trailers with call signs are both transported by personal vehicles of volunteers.
FireCom[edit]
FireCom is the dispatch section of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, providing communications across the state.
Different FireCom centres across the state have different names to reflect their location and the brigades and stations that fall within their catchment zone. Rural and Urban Fire Brigades within the catchment zone of one of these centres report to their respective FireCom. Queensland Fire and Rescue stations and Rural Fire Brigades in the same region both report to the same FireCom centre and use the same codes and radio communication guidelines.
References[edit]
- ^ Queensland, c=AU; o=The State of. "Frequently Asked Questions | Disaster and Emergency Services Reform". www.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Fire and emergency | Emergency response services". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "Member Details - Queensland Parliament". Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b "QFES, SES To Split Up". southburnett.com.au. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b "New Fire Department to call Albion home in 2025". miragenews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Disaster and Emergency Services Reform". qld.gov.au. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "New era for state emergency and marine rescue services starts today". Ministerial Statements. The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "A warm welcome to SES and MRQ". myPolice Queensland Police News. The State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service). 4 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Rural Fire Service History". Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b State of Queensland (Queensland Fire and Emergency Services) (November 2016). "Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Honours and Awards 2016" (PDF). Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
