Tasmania’s 4000 volunteer firefighters to receive extra support with new field officers

The Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS) is looking for new field officers as part of a recruitment drive that will bolster the state’s emergency response capabilities.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Felix Ellis said the extra officers would provide an “operational force” on the ground, supporting dedicated volunteers in the state.

“The new field officers will be deployed across the state: one in the northwest, one in the north and two in the south,” he said.

“Recruiting additional field officers will support our hard-working volunteers who work tirelessly to protect our communities in times of need.”

A $1.5 million pledge was made during the state election, and applications will be posted before the end of July.

Deputy Chief Constable Matt Lowe said the extra field officers would support volunteers in brigades and districts across the state, providing them with access to training, incident management and modern vehicles and stations.

“We currently have about 4,000 volunteers. They are currently supported by nine districts,” he said.

“There are nine field officers in these districts. The field officers provide administrative support, bushfire preparedness support and more importantly, response assistance when these brigades respond.”

He added that field officers play a key role in fire management.

“When our volunteers respond, we structure incidents with management, and these field officers play an important role, but not just during operations.”

“If we look back at the fires in 2013, 2016 and 2019, there is a huge amount of work to do to get our brigades back up and running after these major fires and the officers in the field play a major role in that.”