Community & Business
14 March, 2025
Local fire services are desperate for recruits
MORE recruit firefighters are “desperately” needed for smaller townships in the region and more volunteers are needed for rural fire services to sustain what is an “ageing” workforce, according to local QFD members.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Inspector Tablelands Command Brad Fleming said the number of recruits was low for the smaller towns in the region.
“The numbers we have now are a bit below what we would like,” he said.
“We desperately need recruit firefighters for Millaa Millaa, Ravenshoe and Herberton, we’ve definitely got big gaps there that we would like to see filled.
“We’re still protecting those towns so there’s no need for fear from the public, but we would like to bring the numbers up to be in a position where we’re more comfortable.
“Where we sit right now with Atherton and Mareeba we’ve got sufficient numbers, but for smaller towns such as Dimbulah and Malanda, we could do with more.
“We’re always looking for recruits and we absolutely welcome anyone to come and give it a go.”
Rural Fire Service Queensland Assistant Chief Officer for Savannah District Clint Tunnie said because their volunteer workforce is ageing, they are always trying to attract younger members into the groups and show them the benefits it can bring.
“I can’t highly recommend enough joining one of your local fire brigades to support your community,” he said.
“Joining a volunteer brigade or an urban brigade as an auxiliary provides you a sense of belonging, and it’s great to join a motivated team that’s out there to serve and protect the community.
“There’s a great opportunity for people to join the QFD at an entry level position and give them an idea of what we actually do in a holistic sense of protecting the community.
“We could always use the help whether it’s fighting fires or providing support to your community during major disaster events.
“People go on and make full-time careers out of it, I did that many years ago myself.”
Within Queensland Fire and Rescue there are auxiliary and career firefighters (part-time and full-time).
Auxiliary firefighters are part time workers who are on call mainly during fire seasons and are recruited and trained locally.
“We’ve had a lot of firefighters, myself included, who started as an auxiliary and got a taste for it, then applied through the permanent ranks,” Brad said.
“Becoming an auxiliary is a very good way to get your foot in the door if you want to chase firefighting as a career.”
Fire and Rescue typically deal with structural fires, bush and landscape fires, car accidents, and swift water and technical rescues, while the Rural Fire Service volunteers mainly address bushfire mitigation and landscape fires.
The volunteer members also provide services including hazard prevention and mitigation advice, issuing permits and fire warden activities, community education and engagement, and disaster management response and recovery options.
For more information on joining the Queensland Fire Department visit their website at www.fire.qld.gov.au or visit your local station or brigade.
“For anyone 18 years and above, we encourage them to come and try their hand and see if they like it, they might actually find it’s their calling,” Brad said.
Clint said it’s been a “very rewarding” career for himself, and he finds that “when people join the job they very rarely ever leave.”
“They find that’s it’s an exciting career to get into and it certainly has a huge number of benefits, whether it’s on a volunteer or full-time basis,” he said.
