Royal commission told: We need more paid firefighters in wake of Black Summer

Firefighters from three state government agencies are calling for 1000 permanent paid firefighters to be hired, questioning whether it was ‘appropriate’ to expect volunteers to deal with catastrophic blazes like the ones seen over the past summer.

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Firefighters from three state government agencies have called for an end to the reliance on volunteers in tackling bushfires.

The professional fireys said not only was the volunteer workforce ageing, with a lack of new blood to replace experienced hands, the firefighters were not always available — resulting in hazard reduction being restricted to weekends.

A fire approaches a property in Bilpin in December. Picture: Jeremy Piper

In two separate submissions, to the “Black Summer” Royal Commission and the NSW independent bushfire inquiry, Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Forestry Corporation NSW union members have called for 1000 permanent paid firefighting-skilled staff to be hired.

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While costing around $112 million, the Public Service Association members said the move would ­deliver much-needed regional jobs, while preparing the state for worsening fire conditions.

“Association members … have overwhelmingly told the Association that the over-reliance on volunteers is one of the greatest barriers to the RFS reaching its hazard reduction targets,” the submission said.

“If the RFS instead relied solely on its paid workforce to conduct hazard reduction burns, these could be done whenever the window of ­opportunity presented itself — during the week, over the weekend and overnight. The work would be guaranteed to get done and it would be performed by skilled professionals.

Balmoral burns as bushfires destroy homes in the area. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The blazes took a toll on all firefighters. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Yes, volunteers have historically been a big part of our firefighting ­efforts, and every Australian is grateful to them for that, but the question now is, when we are facing future catastrophic fire seasons like — if not worse — than the season we have just endured in 2019-20, is it right and appropriate to expect volunteers to be responsible for the fate of the nation?

“The Black Summer bushfire crisis clearly exhibited that catastrophic fire conditions are too expansive and too dangerous for communities and governments to rely on volunteers.

“It is an ­unsafe and unfair burden to place on the shoulders of everyday Australians.”

The submissions were based on discussions and a survey of members in the aftermath of the fires, which claimed 33 lives, des­troyed thousands of homes and burned an area the size of South Korea.

Together, the documents paint a scathing picture of just how ill-­prepared the state was in the lead-up to the season.

The volunteer firefighting workforce is ageing and not always readily available. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Staff cuts resulted in desperate measures such as redundant officers being called back to work in a voluntary capacity, antiquated fire trucks — some more than 30 years old — were sent out with no heat protection technology, and outdated communications systems were used, where trucks could not talk to other agencies.

Asked if the RFS was equipped enough to deal with future fire seasons, 70 per cent of members ­answered: “No”.

The union also wants increased federal funding to the National Aerial Firefighting Centre to ensure the availability of “a suitably sized fleet” of firefighting aircraft and pilots.

While the RFS claimed to have more than 70,000 volunteers, fewer than 20,000 were ever recorded active in a given year, and there were never more than 3500 “boots on the ground” during Black Summer, the submissions said.

While the sacrifice of volunteers in the face of Black Summer had to be acknowledged, union ­general secretary Stewart Little said: “Most people would agree it’s unfair to continue to put this level of responsibility on an ­unpaid workforce.”

RFS spokesman Ben Shepherd said they would consider recommendations from the inquiries.

“We have heard these claims ­before,” he said.

It is understood the state government is preparing to announce a major funding commitment for the RFS in the wake of the fires.

Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said volunteers had done an incredible job.

“I resent any implication that volunteers are not professional just because they are unpaid,” he said.