With fire season fast approaching the Miles Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Queensland’s volunteer rural firefighters by announcing a significant investment in new operational and training equipment.
The announcement was made during the Yellow Ribbon Day event, which honours the dedication of Queensland’s 27,000 rural volunteer firefighters.
Fire and Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd revealed that $654,000 worth of new equipment will be distributed across the state to enhance the capabilities of the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ).
“Our tireless rural firefighter volunteers in yellow are the backbone of safe communities and deserve the recognition of Queenslanders,“ Minister Boyd said.
“The new equipment the Miles Government is rolling out is about backing rural volunteer firefighters who protect and support local communities.“
Over the coming weeks, each RFSQ region will receive five 10,000-litre collapsible and portable water tanks, two Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) drones, and seven new virtual reality training systems.
These tools are designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of rural firefighters as they prepare for the upcoming bushfire season.
Queensland Fire Department Commissioner Steve Smith emphasised the importance of Yellow Ribbon Day in recognising the sacrifices made by volunteer firefighters.
“Our RFSQ volunteer members provide a range of services to help keep Queensland safe, from assisting landowners with mitigation activities to frontline firefighting and community education,“ Commissioner Smith said.
“The equipment boost delivered over the coming weeks will be of great benefit to our crews this bushfire season and beyond.“
In addition to the new equipment, the RFSQ will also receive a Retardant and Suppressant Computerised Automated Loading (RASCAL) system, which will be used for gel or water resupply during aviation firefighting operations.
The Miles Government has also secured contracts worth more than $15 million for the delivery of 91 Light Attack appliances across Queensland.
These vehicles, which are often the first line of defence in remote or hard-to-reach locations, are part of a larger $19.5 million budget commitment to provide new and replacement trucks for the RFSQ.
Rural Fire Service Queensland Chief Officer Ben Millington expressed enthusiasm about the new investments, highlighting the critical role these tools will play in ensuring the safety of Queensland communities.
“These light attack vehicles allow for a swift response in places that some of our other appliances may not be able to reach,“ Millington explained.
“The water collar tanks and drones provide invaluable safety benefits, and the virtual reality training systems offer our crews a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in various scenarios they may face during operations.“
Last fire season, RFSQ volunteers from 1,400 rural brigades responded to more than 7,500 bushfires and nearly 30,000 vegetation fires, covering over 3.29 million hectares.
The new equipment and continued investment in the RFSQ underscore the Miles Government’s dedication to supporting these essential volunteers in their mission to protect Queenslanders.
