State fire organisations merge to form new Queensland Fire Service

The Queensland Government has amalgamated several fire services into one new Queensland Fire Department (QFD).

QFD brings together the former Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFR), Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ), corporate services and state operations into a new organisation.

The document indicates that while the services provided to the community by QFR and RFSQ remain the same, the new focus of QFD will result in more people and better equipment to deliver those services.

QFD will continue to play a critical role in responding to severe weather conditions, and QFR firefighters will continue to provide “white water,” “vertical,” “confined space,” and other technical rescue capabilities that cannot be counted on during natural disasters and other major incidents.

At the same time, the QFR will receive significant financial support and an additional 143 firefighter positions to enhance its multi-hazard response capabilities. The RFSQ is conducting a statewide recruitment drive to fill an additional 114 newly created full-time positions in training, management and support roles to support more than 27,000 volunteers in Queensland communities.

A new Regional Fire Service Advisory Committee (RFSAC) was also established, comprising 10 volunteers from across the state, as well as Acting Chief Warden Ben Millington, South East Deputy Chief Warden Karen Hodges AFSM, South West Deputy Chief Warden Wayne Waltisbuhl and Northern Area Manager Fiona Quirk.

Queensland Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery Nikki Boyd said the launch of QFD meant the same service would remain available but with the added benefits of increased funding, equipment, training and resources for both QFR and RFSQ.

“QFD will continue to work with local councils, other emergency response agencies, industry and other partners to prepare communities for wildfire threats through education and mitigation efforts,” she said.

“With further bushfires and extreme weather looming, it is vital that Queensland has a strong, focused QFD unit.

“Together we will face the challenges ahead and be prepared for the increasing impacts we are witnessing as a result of population growth and climate change.”

QFD Commissioner Steve Smith said the transition from QFES to QFD had taken months of hard work, planning and commitment.

“This has allowed us to minimise disruption to existing services as we transform into a department that is more focused on fire prevention, response and community service,” he said.

“Queensland Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service Queensland will now operate as separate, specialist services under one banner.

“We are increasing the number of frontline and support staff. Hundreds of new recruits are joining the QFR academy and there are over 100 support volunteer positions to fill across RFSQ.

“This reform gives us the best possible platform to continue to deliver exceptional services to all Queenslanders and prepare for the challenges ahead.”

From 2025, QFD’s headquarters will be a new location in Albion, Brisbane, where more than 500 CEOs and corporate employees will work.