Queensland Fire and Emergency Services hits the mark in demanding year

A new report confirms Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is continuing its world-class standard of service to the community, Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford said today (Thursday).

“The 2018 Report on Government Services (RoGS) confirms fire and emergency services across the state are not only hitting the mark, they are exceeding it,” Mr Crawford said.

“QFES was heavily involved in a number of large scale responses in 2016-17, including Tropical Cyclone Debbie, severe flooding in Rockhampton and bushfires on the Sunshine Coast.

“These were challenging events, but our fire and emergency service personnel proved they were certainly up to the task when Queenslanders need them most.”

Mr Crawford said the new report reveals QFES exceeded its service delivery standard of responding to 90 per cent of all structure fires within 14 minutes.

“In 2016-2017, firefighters arrived at 90 per cent of all structure fires within 12.5 minutes,” Mr Crawford said.

“This is testament to the hard work and commitment of QFES to maintaining excellent service to the community.

“Emergency Vehicle Priority technology – giving fire appliances and ambulances priority when responding to emergencies – has been rolled out across much of the state, as efforts continue to improve response times.”

Mr Crawford said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to ensuring fire and emergency service personnel had the support they needed to continue their lifesaving work.

“Unlike the LNP who cut staff and closed services, the Palaszczuk Government is increasing firefighter numbers and upgrading equipment and facilities,” he said.

“In 2017-18, the Palaszczuk Government allocated record funding of $663.8 million for QFES, including budgeted staffing for 3280 full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel.

“This funding will arm our first responders with the tools they need to carry out their work, whether fighting fires, rescuing people from floodwater or answering the call for help when severe weather strikes.

“The Palaszczuk Government will also deliver on an election commitment to boost our world-leading fire and emergency services by an additional 100 firefighters and 12 fire communications officers through additional funding of $29.5 million over four years.

“Critically, these new officers will be deployed across regional Queensland to areas most at risk from natural disasters.”

QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll acknowledged the hard-work of QFES personnel in light of the challenges they confronted in 2016-17.

“Our firefighters carried out a number of swiftwater rescues in often dangerous environments and our volunteers stepped up to help the community before, during and after Tropical Cyclone Debbie hit last March,” Ms Carroll said.

“More than 42,000 volunteers supported the delivery of emergency services in Queensland in 2016-17 and were an integral part of QFES’ response to Cyclone Debbie. We are exceptionally proud to have so many staff and volunteers committed to serving Queenslanders.”

Ms Carroll said the department’s strong community safety focus was evident in the RoGS report.

“Eight in 10 Queenslanders now have operational smoke alarms in their homes due in large part to our ongoing education campaigns,” she said.

“Furthermore, the introduction of new smoke alarm legislation last year has laid the foundation for substantial improvements in home safety standards in Queensland.

“I look forward to building upon these results in the year ahead to ensure QFES continues to provide a first-class service and meet community expectations.”

ENDS

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