The Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) is made up of approximately 28,000 volunteer members who make up the 1,400 rural fire brigades and 2,400 fire warden districts, ensuring community safety and enhancing community resilience.

Although there is a general perception that the main role of volunteer members is active firefighting there is much more to being a member of a rural fire brigade.

RFSQ volunteer members provide services in their local area, including:

  • Firefighting landscape fires
  • Hazard prevention and mitigation advice
  • Issuing permits and fire warden activities
  • Community education and engagement
  • Disaster management response and recovery options.

The recent bushfire seasons experienced in Australia highlight the important contribution that volunteer members make not only to the state of Queensland but across the country. Our volunteers provided duties including firefighting, catering,  incident management, logistics support, operational planning, community education, and evacuations.

Brigades across the state work to help prepare for fire seasons by training new members, conducting hazard reduction burns, and educating members of the community to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of fire and emergency events.

It's the generous contribution of our volunteer members that makes a massive impact in Queensland and Australian communities.

History

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History

The Prevent the Careless Use of Fire Act 1865 was introduced as the first legislation for rural fire management practices in Queensland. This prompted the beginning of a number of rural landowners banding together to protect their properties and communities. But it wasn't until after the introduction of the Rural Fires Act 1927 that the first Rural Fire Board was formed. Unfortunately the board was suspended during the Great Depression in 1931.

Last updated 29 July 2024