NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons to lead coronavirus recovery

NSW bushfire hero Shane Fitzsimmons has left an emotional message to firefighters as he departs his RFS Commissioner’s job amid another crisis, the battle against coronavirus.

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Outgoing Rural Fire Service chief Shane Fitzsimmons has told firefighters that they should not be surprised to see him popping in “to bludge a cup of tea” in his new role as NSW Resilience Commissioner.

Mr Fitzsimmons is stepping down after more than 35 years in the RFS - the last 12 of which as Commissioner - to take up the newly created role at the start of next month.

In an emotional message to firefighters last night Mr Fitzsimmons wrote that it was important for leaders to know when it was time for “change and renewal”.

NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons will take up a new job as head of the Stte Emergency Recovery body. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

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“This has been an extremely challenging and difficult decision, as only those closest to me will ever truly know, but the most important and necessary decisions usually are,” he said in reference to his wife and childhood sweetheart Lisa.

“I will retain my mobile phone number and will remain in contact with the RFS in my new role. Don’t be surprised if I drop in to an RFS facility whilst I’m out and about to bludge a cup of tea and/or a quick chat,” he wrote.

Mr Fitzsimmons paid tribute to the members of the RFS particularly during “the worst bush fire season in our State’s history” and said “coordinated fire fighting is the strongest it has ever been.”

“There is no doubt we’ve all been affected in some way by the events of this last bush fire season but that’s simply because we care. We care about each other and we care about the people of NSW and that’s a good thing, it’s actually a great thing,” he wrote.

The outgoing fire chief will head up the new agency from the 1st of May. He will be replaced by his deputy Rob Rogers

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph last night, Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the new agency will make sure different parts of the government work together to help people prepare for, and recover from, all kinds of disasters.

“Resilience NSW is really about recovery … but it's also about policy co-ordination and development across the emergency management sector,” he said.

Mr Fitzsimmons has already been working behind the scenes on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure he can hit the ground running when he starts his new role next month.

“The recovery contemplation starts now,” he said.

Shane Fitzsimmons during the geight of the bushfire crisis. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said “the next six months will be very difficult but we must already turn our mind to recovery”.

“Through Resilience NSW we will redouble our efforts to prevent, prepare and recover from crises which impact NSW,” she said.

After NSW was hit by crippling drought, unprecedented fires, and now the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Fitzsimmons said some communities in the state are “terribly affected by all three disasters”. Resilience NSW will bring together different emergency agencies to ensure a consistent response to natural, or man-made disasters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has appointed Mr Fitzsimmons to the role. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

Mr Fitzsimmons last night said the new recovery agency will help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible, including by ensuring anyone impacted by disaster knows what support is available.

He said he wants to make applying for government assistance “as painless and as simple as it possibly can (be)”.

Ms Berejiklian said the new agency will drive a “world-leading” approach to disaster preparedness and recovery.

NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons will be in charge of a world-leading organisation. Picture: Tim Hunter.

As well as taking on responsibility for getting the state going again after the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Fitzsimmons told The Daily Telegraph he wants to be front and centre in ensuring communities impacted by this summer’s bushfires are supported.

He said he will have a greater role as State Emergency Recovery Controller in seeing bushfire-impacted communities through the recovery phase than he would have had as RFS commissioner.

Last month, he told The Daily Telegraph’s ‘Mates Under Fire’ podcast about the personal impact of the state’s horror bushfire season.

Images from The Daily Telegraph\s podcast series Mates Under Fire. Illustration: Fadzil Hamzah

“I don’t think I’ll ever be the same,” he said.

But he said his decision to leave was one he has been thinking about for some time.

“I’ve always been firmly of the view that one of the most critical decisions leaders need to make is when it’s time for change and renewal,” he said.

Mr Fitzsimmons has endorsed deputy RFS commissioner Rob Rogers to take the top job. Picture: John Grainger

The outgoing fire chief last night endorsed his long-serving deputy, Rob Rogers, to take over the top job.

“If the government so chooses, there’s no doubt that deputy commissioner Rob Rogers would very readily step into the role,” Shane Fitzsimmons told The Daily Telegraph.

“He would be the obvious frontrunner,” he said.

Originally published as NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons to lead coronavirus recovery