The focus of RFS fleet planning has been to modernise and reduce the average age of fleet appliances, and while progress has been made, targets are yet to be met

RFS business cases show that the agency has been focused on upgrading an ageing firefighting fleet in an effort to bring its vehicles up to service standards. RFS service standards specify that firefighting fleet assets have a service life of 25 years, after which they have reached the end of their functional and economic life.

The RFS has been working on refurbishing and replacing hundreds of vehicles since 2017. In 2020–21 alone, the RFS allocated 269 new vehicles to brigades across the State. These appliances replace older vehicles and go some way towards achieving the RFS objective – to establish a firefighting fleet with an average age of 15 years. While the service life of an asset is 25 years, the economic life of the asset is shorter, at between15 to 20 years. After this period, the asset requires additional maintenance. Older vehicles lack specialist systems and equipment, and according to the RFS, technical obsolescence 'can impact on frontline operational effectiveness and safety'.

Over the past six years, the RFS has reduced the average age of its firefighting fleet by five years. In 2017, RFS appliances were in service for 21 years on average and by 2022 the average service age was 16 years as shown in Exhibit 3 below.

Despite progress to reduce the average age of the fleet, the RFS continues to have assets that are older than 25 years. Nineteen per cent of appliances were in this over 25 year category in 2022. While the average age of the fleet is dropping, the RFS is yet to reach its fifteen year, average age target as shown in Exhibit 4 below. 

The pace of RFS fleet replacement and renewal has been influenced by factors such as the overall funding envelope for firefighting appliances in NSW, and the fleet production capabilities of the fleet building industries. In 2020–21, a significant increase in NSW Government funding meant that the RFS was able to double its purchase of new tankers and double the refurbishment of existing tankers as shown in Exhibit 5.

Government funding has not been sufficient to keep pace with the replacement costs of fleet appliances before they reach the end of their service life

In the ten years prior to the 2019–2020 bushfires, the RFS received an annual average of $31.7 million in funding from the NSW Government for fleet renewal. During this timeframe, the RFS replaced or refurbished just over 170 fleet assets per annum.

Early in 2019, prior to the 2019–2020 summer of bushfires, the RFS presented the NSW Government with a business case seeking additional funding over ten years. It also sought a permanent adjustment to its baseline funding for the replacement, refurbishment and upgrading of firefighting appliances and operational vehicles.

The business case described an ageing fleet, with over 400 assets beyond their service life. It described 'historic under investment in the renewal of firefighting appliances', coupled with 'significant increases in appliance unit costs' as the reasons for an ageing fleet. The RFS identified more than 424 firefighting assets that were beyond their service life in 2019, at a replacement value of $106.5 million.

The 2019 RFS business case identified a further 1,908 fleet assets that were due for replacement in the next ten years. The replacement value for these assets was estimated to be $448.4 million.

Ageing vehicles and appliances suffer from reduced reliability and availability, due to greater maintenance downtime and higher support costs. Ageing assets also lack contemporary safety systems and may no longer comply with service standards.

In 2020–21, the NSW Government provided the RFS with $44.7 million in additional funding. In 2021, the RFS purchased 269 new firefighting vehicles. While this partially reduced the burden of an aged fleet, it was not sufficient to replace the 424 assets identified in the 2019 business case as having outlived their service life.

In 2022, the RFS presented a further business case to the NSW Government, requesting an enhancement to its baseline funding for fleet renewal. This business case was a joint submission with Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Forestry Corporation NSW. This submission requested $404.5 million in funding over eight years to implement Recommendation 40 of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry – to improve the safety of fire truck crew through the installation of cabin safety protections and the upgrade or replacement of fleet appliances.

In June 2022, the NSW Government allocated $105.6 million to the RFS for new trucks and the retrofitting of old trucks to implement Recommendation 40 of the inquiry. RFS continues to add safety enhancements to the fleet such as the installation of radiant heat protection curtains in its tankers, and reports on progress to the NSW Government.

The NSW Government funding allocations to RFS from 2017 to 2022 are described at Exhibit 6 below.

The RFS has been implementing recommendations from the NSW Bushfire Inquiry to improve its fleet

Recommendations from bushfire inquiries have significantly driven RFS fleet planning, procurement, and expenditure since the 2019–2020 bushfires. In 2020, the NSW Bushfire Inquiry recommended that the RFS install a range of new technologies to meet firefighting fleet safety requirements in compliance with national and international safety standards. In the years since the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, the NSW Government provided funding of $50.92 million ($28.4 million in 2021–22 and $22.5 million in 2022–23) for firefighting fleet safety upgrades and replacements.

The new safety modifications include the installation of rollover protections and falling object protections for fire trucks. The NSW bushfire inquiry found that 2,294 RFS vehicles were not compliant with fire protection safety features. The non-compliant vehicles were older appliances, built prior to 2008, and required the retrofitting of halo, self-protection sprays, and burn-over curtains.

In response to inquiry recommendations, the RFS installed a range of fleet communication technologies to improve contact with crews operating in firegrounds. Technologies included an acceleration of the roll out of mobile data terminals in firefighting vehicles, and the implementation of a computer aided dispatch system. The RFS advised that mobile data terminals will enable firefighters to share operational information with other firefighters and the incident management team in real time and improve its response capability. The RFS advised that 26 of its 44 RFS Districts have been using the computer aided dispatch system since December 2021.

The RFS is working with a number of agencies to implement the NSW Bushfire Inquiry safety recommendations. These collaborations involve State and Commonwealth government departments, emergency response groups, research bodies such as the CSIRO, and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

There is limited evidence of RFS research into modern fleet technologies for the prevention, mitigation, and suppression of bushfires

The RFS has not commissioned or published research into the fleet requirements or the fleet technologies that are required for modern firefighting. The RFS has not used the event of the 2019–20 bushfires to research new firefighting fleet technologies that could be used to identify fires when they are in early stages. This is a missed opportunity as significant funds have been expended on replacing the same fleet asset types and technologies, without research into whether these fleet appliances are the most effective for managing bushfire events in NSW.

While the RFS has recently purchased aircraft to assist with its aerial firefighting capabilities, there is limited evidence of other research into new firefighting fleet technologies and innovations. Since the 2019–2020 bushfire season, all research undertaken by the RFS and its partners has been focused on the behaviours of fire events and their impacts on communities, property, and assets. These research projects include a 2021 project undertaken with the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre to investigate the ways in which fire risks are communicated to communities during fire events, and how communities behave in response to prolonged fire events. The RFS also contributed to a research project with the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub to investigate the behaviours of the 2019–2020 bushfires, and the impacts on assets and property.

The RFS advised it conducted a trial of remotely piloted aerial systems, commonly known as drones, in early 2022 to assess their ability to supplement aerial firefighting. The NSW Bushfire Inquiry found that drones were a valuable part of the aerial response during the 2019–2020 bushfires, providing situational awareness, livestreaming of bushfire conditions, and thermal data. The RFS also advised it was recently awarded $3 million to conduct research into tethered drones and field robotics, with a view to enhancing firefighter safety and situational awareness.

The RFS also advised that in early 2022 it conducted a night trial using helicopters equipped with infrared technology, including a Chinook helicopter contracted from the United States. Infrared technology helps firefighters identify power lines and other potential hazards during emergencies. RFS reported that it will continue to improve its capability for night reconnaissance, response, and rescue.

The RFS is collaborating with the NSW Government, NSW fire authorities, and academics to investigate the historical and seasonal contexts of the 2019–2020 fires. This research is focused on the fire severity and behaviour, and the loss and damage to life and property. The future work of this collaboration will assess the impacts of the reduced fuel loads in NSW since the 2019–2020 bushfires, and the ways in which these fuel loads are likely to pose fire risks to life, property, and the environment.

The RFS advised it received $16.1 million to fund temporary mitigation crew positions and trial new mitigation trucks and posi-track vegetation clearing equipment. Posi-track equipment can be used to clear vegetation in steep and difficult terrain. This equipment also reduces manual labour and enhances the safety of personnel.

There is a strong case for new research into fleet types and emerging technologies that can be used for the early identification and monitoring of fires, along with research into fleet appliances that can be used to mitigate and suppress the impacts of large wildfires on populations and the environment. In mid-2022, the RFS commenced a two-year project with academics and industry partners to research new firefighting fleet innovations.

The RFS has recently acquired six aircraft to add to its permanent fleet in order to improve its rapid bushfire response capabilities and to offset some of the costs of aircraft hire

In 2017, the RFS had one small helicopter and two medium-sized helicopters. These aircraft were the first additions to the RFS permanent aerial fleet. In 2019–20, the RFS acquired a water carrying Boeing 737 air tanker, to assist with bushfire suppression activities. The following year the RFS added two Cessna citation jets and three medium sized helicopters to its permanent fleet. The RFS advised that its Boeing 737 large air tanker, which is based in NSW, is the only one of its kind in Australia. The large air tanker is supported by two Cessna citation jets, or lead planes, which can scan and map bushfire activity and detect fire ignitions. In all, the RFS now has nine aerial assets. These aircraft are used for topographical imaging, thermal imaging, fire scanning, and fire suppression.

During fire seasons, the RFS has been supplementing its aerial firefighting capabilities with hired aircraft from other jurisdictions and private operators. The RFS has access to more than 100 aircraft. The RFS has contract arrangements with the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council for aircraft on a 'call when needed' basis. This national agency has cooperative arrangements with international providers of firefighting aircraft. However, during 2019–2020 when fires were burning across a number of Australian states and territories, there were limits on the aerial resources that could be provided to NSW.

During a significant fire event, senior officers at the State Air Desk are responsible for the coordination and prioritisation of aerial assets to bushfire sites. A State Operations Controller monitors the development of fire incidents and makes decisions about the allocation of aerial resources on advice from Incident Coordination Teams. During the 2019–2020 bushfires, some fire events had to be prioritised over others. The RFS reports that it was not able to respond to all fire events with aerial assets, given the finite level of resources, and the extent of the fire emergency during that season.

In 2019–20, the RFS spent more than $255.5 million on aircraft hire for fire response activity during the unprecedented fire season. This expenditure was more than six times the amount spent in the previous year, when aircraft hire costs totalled $42.5 million. RFS expenditure on aircraft purchased between 2019 and 2021, amounted to approximately $31 million.

RFS business cases for aircraft purchases for the permanent fleet describe a need for a 'rapid firefighting response capability' and a need to offset some of the costs of airplane hire. Business cases indicate that helicopters can be rapidly deployed to remote fire ignitions on short notice, and these aircraft are suitable for response to fires up to ten hectares in size.

The RFS does not currently have a framework for assessing the capabilities of the permanent firefighting fleet, including the aerial fleet. However, the RFS is working with other Australian states and territories to ensure the right mix and type of aerial assets across the country. In 2020, a recommendation of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry directed the RFS to report to Resilience NSW on its aerial planning activity with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.

The RFS has increased funding for bulldozers and graders to conduct fire hazard reduction works, but decreased funding for maintenance works on fire trails and fire breaks

The RFS is the lead agency with responsibility for bushfire hazard reduction in NSW. The RFS hazard reduction works include the creation of fire breaks, the maintenance of fire trails, and prescribed burning activities. The RFS has its own 'heavy plant' fleet for these works and is able to enhance this fleet with hired appliances from private or local government providers. Some of these include earth moving graders, bulldozers, excavators, and front end loaders.

Since 2017, the RFS increased its expenditure on its heavy plant fleet in small increments up until 2019–20, when expenditure was significantly increased. In 2017–18, the RFS spent $2.3 million on heavy plant and made a minor increase in 2018–19 to $3.2 million. In 2019–20, the RFS spent approximately $73.1 million on heavy plant.

While RFS expenditure on the heavy plant fleet has increased over the past five years, expenditure on fire hazard reduction activity has been declining as a proportion of government funding. The highest proportional spend on fire mitigation was in 2016–17 when 2.3% of government funding was dedicated to this activity. In 2018–19, the year before the fires that impacted much of NSW and neighbouring states, the RFS received higher levels of government funds, but continued the trend of lower proportional spending on hazard reduction works. The lowest spend was in the year of the 2019–2020 bushfires when 0.6% of government funds was allocated to this activity.

It is not clear whether increased expenditure on the heavy plant fleet is connected to a lower proportional spend on hazard reduction works. There is limited information to explain the RFS changes to expenditure in its annual fire hazard reduction works.

Exhibit 7 shows the downward trend in expenditure on fire mitigation and the increasing spend on the heavy plant fleet since 2017.

The RFS advised that since the bushfires of 2019–2020, it has commenced a number of fire trail initiatives to create and maintain a strategic fire trail network. In 2021, the NSW Bushfire Inquiry recommended that the RFS conduct additional fire mitigation works across NSW and accelerate its work on fire breaks and fire trails.

The locations of the RFS firefighting fleet are largely determined by the availability and the capabilities of trained brigade volunteers

The RFS gives each firefighting brigade a classification level according to the capabilities of its volunteer workforce. While brigade classifications are also determined by the geographic and environmental risks in each location, a brigade classification is not set automatically, according to fire risks. Brigades must have appropriate capabilities before they can be endorsed, and in regions where fire risks may be high, the brigade will not receive a high classification if the volunteer workforce lacks fleet management capabilities.

A brigade’s classification level has a direct impact on the types and numbers of fleet resources that are kept at each brigade. Brigade volunteers are required to maintain, manage, and operate the firefighting fleet, and members are assessed on their ability to carry out these functions. Volunteers are also assessed for operational capabilities and a willingness to engage, train, and sustain a range of firefighting and operational skills.

Brigade members are volunteers and have autonomy deciding the levels of firefighting that they’re prepared to commit to each year. Some brigade personnel are prepared to commit to firefighting exclusively, while others extend their commitment to hazard reduction work, such as the clearing of bush and grasslands, and highway maintenance. These factors impact on the fleet appliances that are housed within each brigade. The process of brigade classification and fleet allocation occurs in collaboration with brigades on an annual basis.

Brigades with higher classification levels such as Village 1 Brigades or Village 2 Brigades are likely to have several appliances and higher levels of capability in terms of skilled membership. Other rural and remote brigades have lower levels of capability and lower levels of appliances. The RFS has to consider how fire response coverage can be provided to areas with lower functioning brigades. The RFS looks at the capabilities of neighbouring brigades to assist during fire events.

The RFS publishes information about climate risks in NSW, but it is not clear how this information influences the size, composition, or locations of the firefighting fleet

The RFS is not able to demonstrate the ways in which climate risk research or fire incident trends inform statewide fleet allocations. In recent years, the RFS published the first of its two NSW Bushfire Season Outlook Statements. The Outlook Statements describe NSW bushfire fuel loads in their current and predicted state and the areas where there is predicted potential for bushfires. Maps show the likelihood of fuel loads being susceptible to fire across NSW, through analysis of location-based, climate predictions for the season. It is not clear how this information is used to inform fleet planning or distributions. 

The RFS could not provide evidence linking predictive data from Outlook Statements to fleet planning activity or allocations to RFS Districts. There is no evidence that Outlook Statement data is used to inform the allocation of fleet vehicles to districts where there are higher fuel loads or higher levels of predicted risk. The RFS advises that work is in preliminary stages to integrate information from the Outlook Statement into its cyclic maintenance planning and the management of its Asset Protection Zones.

As part of our analysis, we assessed the distribution of firefighting fleet in the RFS Districts. We listed the fleet assets that are located with local councils. They are sometimes described as the red fleet. They include fire tankers and pumpers, and RFS personnel and transport vehicles.

Exhibit 9 shows where the higher and lower concentrations of fleet assets are located. The RFS has not developed its own mapping of firefighting fleet appliance locations to demonstrate the ways in which the fleet locations match the areas where there is higher bushfire risk as described in the Seasonal Bushfire Outlook mapping. Work of this nature would be a useful addition to RFS reporting. Fleet appliance mapping would provide some assurance that the RFS is analysing its fleet resources according to identified bushfire risks.

The RFS approach to fire prevention is focused on the protection of assets in identified zones, and fleet planning is not done according to broader bushfire risks

The RFS describes its fire hazard reduction approach as a 'qualitative rather than a quantitative assessment' of bushfire risk. The RFS approach is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard for Risk Management which sets out processes for identifying assets at risk, but does not prescribe measures or methods for assessing performance in mitigating or addressing these risks.

The protected assets in NSW are described in 53 Bush fire Risk Management Plans and 100 Community Protection Plans. Protected assets include critical infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and residential settlements in prescribed areas. The plans also describe the hazard reduction activity aimed at protecting identified assets, and the particular treatments according to terrain types.

A statewide Bush Fire Coordinating Committee collects all of the plans and collates information about fire risks across the State. Annual treatments are scheduled to reduce fire hazards in the land surrounding protected assets, and these areas are categorised into Bush Fire Management Zones.

In its submission to the Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2019–2020 bushfires, the RFS rejected a proposal for a national standard in relation to bushfire fuel load management. The RFS submission stated that a target for fuel load management is inappropriate for NSW because the primary responsibility for fuel load management rests with the land manager, owner, or occupier of the relevant land. This responsibility is described in the Rural Fires Act.

The RFS does not see any benefit in imposing fuel load management standards or targets on landowners. According to its submission to the Australian Parliamentary Inquiry, the RFS advises that a nationally consistent standard would not cater to the vast differences in vegetation, land ownership and communities across Australia. In the absence of measures for fuel load reduction or fuel load management, it is not possible to assess whether fleet appliances are available in appropriate numbers or types to conduct this activity in NSW.

The RFS does not take a broad, statewide approach to bushfire prevention in NSW, beyond the protection of identified assets in identified areas. This narrowly focused, asset protection approach to bushfire management means that the RFS does limited or no fleet planning or reporting in relation to bushfire risk management in areas where there are no identified assets. The RFS does no planning to link its fleet requirements to large scale bushfires across the State.

Almost a quarter of scheduled fire hazard reduction works were not completed in 2021 and there is no assessment as to whether the availability of fleet impacted on the completion of these works

In 2021, the RFS reported that there were 10,000 planned fire protection works for NSW, of which 7,358 were completed. The RFS did not report on the reasons for the non-completion of almost a quarter of the fire protection works across the State. The RFS advised that fleet availability had no impact on the completion of planned hazard reduction works in 2021. However, there is no reporting at the RFS District level about the completion rates of hazard reduction works, and no visibility or rationale in RFS reporting to explain the non-completions.

The RFS has 44 Fire Districts across NSW, and each district has responsibility to conduct its own fire protection works. There is no indication whether the availability of appliances such as bulldozers and graders had any impact on the completion rates of hazard reduction works.

Fleet appliances that are used for fire hazard reduction works are generally known as the heavy plant fleet. The RFS has its own heavy plant fleet, but also contracts local government and private contractors to complete these works. The heavy plant fleet is stored on a register known as Arena Heavy Plant, but not all contractors are using the database to list their fleet and its availability.

The RFS Bush Fire Risk Management Plans do not assess or describe changing fire risks in prescribed areas, according to changing conditions. For example, plans do not contain data or analysis of fuel load volumes or RFS activity to reduce fuel load volumes. RFS bushfire planning documents are primarily descriptors of asset protection zones and fire hazard reduction requirements. They do not include information about fleet requirements or on the completion rates of annual hazard reduction works by location. As activity is not reported at the local level, it is not possible to assess fleet requirements by location, or whether the availability or heavy plant appliances had any impact on non-completions of works.

The RFS has limited targets to assess its performance in responding to fire incidents, so it is not possible to assess the capability of the fleet to respond to, and suppress fires

The RFS has not developed targets to assess its performance in fire management across its 44 Fire Districts in NSW. For example, the RFS does not measure the time it takes for brigades to reach and suppress fires, or the number of fires, or the size of fires in each RFS District. Without measurements of performance, it is not possible to assess whether the fleet size and composition is appropriate to address the fire risks.

In 2020–21, the RFS reported over 4,700 incidents of bush, grass, and forest fires across NSW – approximately half the number recorded in the previous year. The RFS publishes statewide, aggregate fire incident data, but does not identify the regions or districts where fire activity was higher, or areas where the risks in NSW were greater.

RFS records show the number and types of firefighting fleet in each of its seven NSW Command Areas, but they do not include evidence or analysis of the fleet capability to meet regional fire events or risks. For example, the RFS has not conducted assessments of RFS fire response times or fire suppression activity in its regions or districts. The RFS does not use other measures to assess the capability of its regional fleet to respond to fire activity in the region.

It is not possible to assess whether the RFS has the right assets in the right regions according to its performance in responding to fires across NSW. The RFS does not conduct analysis of fire incident response times or fire size and spread in the different locations. The RFS is not setting performance measures that would assist the agency to understand how the different districts and area commands are performing year on year.

In September 2022, the RFS indicated that it will be implementing targets to limit 80% of fires in NSW to under ten hectares. The RFS Commissioner advised that fires can be kept under the ten hectare threshold through early interventions. The RFS intends to use aerial detection aircraft and satellite technologies to access fires 'when they're in their infancy, when lightning strikes … and make sure we're on top of them'. The RFS has not provided information about whether the ten hectare target will influence its acquisition or distribution of land-based fleet types or volumes.

The RFS is in the process of implementing a new system (Athena) that uses artificial intelligence to predict fires. Athena has capabilities for fire risk visualisation, risk modelling, and the use of social media to gather fire risk intelligence to improve its operational awareness and incident response. It is not yet clear whether Athena will influence the location of fleet assets across the State.

RFS District managers are not using fleet activity analytics to calculate their fleet requirements

The ongoing distribution of RFS fleet assets is predominantly based on the historical location of appliances, and not on the assessment of risk or the capability of the fleet to respond to fire incidents in RFS Districts. The RFS has not developed a formula or methodology to assess the fleet requirements of RFS Districts according to fire response activity, or the performance of fire brigades in responding to fire events.

All RFS Districts have a ten-year fleet management plan. Up until 2020, RFS District managers have been making bids for modest increases to their fleet profile based on historical fleet numbers and appliance types described in fleet management plans. The fleet bidding process does not include an analysis of the time it takes brigades to respond to fires, the size of fires, or assessments of fuel load metrics by district. There is no analysis of the distance that trucks have to travel to respond to fires, or the frequency with which they have to travel longer and shorter distances.

According to RFS District managers, the fleet bidding process is generally preceded by district-level consultations with brigade volunteers, and in some instances, an assessment and update of district Bush Fire Risk Management Plans. Prior to the 2019–2020 fire season, district-level bids would be assessed by central managers who would then decide the types, volumes, and distributions of fleet assets to brigades across the State.

Bush Fire Risk Management Plans are not being updated regularly, so are not always a reliable indicator of bushfire risk. At the time of this audit, approximately half of the State’s district-level Bush Fire Risk Management Plans had not been updated within five years as required by the Rural Fires Act. The plans describe local asset protection zones and include information about the fire risks and hazards associated with the local terrain types in the district. Plans contain information about the routine hazard reduction treatments to protect local assets, and the responsible agencies for carrying out works annually. The RFS advised it is in the process of updating these plans, and is reporting quarterly on its progress to the NSW Parliament as required by the NSW Bushfire Inquiry in 2020.

Since 2020, RFS fleet planning and fleet allocation has been exclusively managed by RFS Headquarters and district inputs are no longer sought. The Fleet Production department of RFS is responsible for coordinating fleet planning and for the distribution of fleet to the districts and brigades. In general, the fleet allocation process is following a one-for-one replacement of appliances.

The pace of fleet production and fleet rotation is governed by available funding and the ability of fleet production companies to keep pace with demand

The RFS receives an annual funding envelope for fleet production. A program of money is allocated to build new vehicles and to incorporate safety modifications to existing fleet. RFS fleet analysts make decisions about vehicle builds according to a schedule to reduce the average age of the fleet. Once the RFS has assessed the numbers and types of new trucks that can be built according to the funding envelope, fleet analysts make decisions about where the new fleet will be located, where older fleet vehicles will be sent, and which fleet assets can be disposed.

In general, brigades with higher levels of activity receive the new appliances, and those with lower activity and capabilities, receive the older, refurbished vehicles. A truck can sometimes be moved three or four times, and ultimately end up in a remote brigade during its lifespan. A new appliance brings an enhanced level of capability compared with older fleet assets.

In order to assess the capability of each appliance, RFS analysts assess the mileage and the age of trucks in each brigade. Decisions are made about the lifespan of appliances according to their level of activity and wear and tear factors. The factors that impact on the lifespan of the asset include the mileage of the vehicle, the types of work they do, and the impact of the work on the appliance.

At the current time, firefighting fleet production industries are not keeping pace with fleet replacement requirements. According to the RFS, the fleet production industry does not have the ability to produce fleet appliances at a pace that is optimal for the Australian industry needs. The RFS is one of several agencies that require firefighting appliances in a multinational market. In the Australian context, fleet production is slow. Once local councils are advised that they will receive a new appliance, it can take between one to three years to arrive, depending on the volume of requests with appliance builders.

Over the past two years, the RFS has made changes to aspects of firefighting fleet design, including the incorporation of safety features that were recommended by 2019–2020 bushfire inquiries. The process of adding safety modifications to new and existing fleet, has further slowed and disrupted fleet production. Changes to fleet design necessitated the recontracting of building companies – midway through fleet production processes. This has had significant impacts on the pace of fleet production.

The RFS has identified opportunities to improve its processes when fleet modifications are required mid-production. These include a need for rapid communication with RFS engineering department staff, and prompt re-contracting with fleet building companies to incorporate fleet design changes.

The RFS is in the early stages of a two-year project to research a ‘next generation’ firefighting fleet

In mid-2022, the RFS commenced a two-year project to understand what 'new' looks like in firefighting appliances. The project incorporates the research capabilities of academic institutions and input from the industry sector. The intention of the project is 'to design the modern firefighting appliance'.

Fleet innovations will be dependent on available funding for the project. To date, funding for fleet innovation has only allowed for incremental improvements to firefighting appliances. While the funding for this project has not yet been decided, the speed of innovation will be driven to some extent, by the size of the funding envelope. The speed with which any design innovations can be incorporated into the fleet, will also be dependent on contractual arrangements and the future capabilities of fleet production companies.