Forest Fire Management Victoria’s (FFMVic) newest recruits are gearing up for the summer bushfire season, undertaking intensive training camps across the state.
The training camps ensure seasonal forest and fire operations officers are well-prepared to respond to emergencies and carry out vital work to reduce bushfire risk.
This summer, FFMVic is introducing 636 seasonal firefighters who will work alongside their experienced permanent crews.
14 training camps are being held across the state over the coming weeks.
Recruits complete two weeks of classroom and field-based learning, covering a range of topics including fire behaviour, safety and survival techniques, fire suppression, working around aircraft, and planned burning.
The camps offer hands-on experience, including operating water pumps and chainsaws, and driving specialised firefighting vehicles.
Beyond emergency response, seasonal forest and fire operations officers also carry out important land management tasks such as mulching, mowing, slashing, and spraying.
They help maintain fuel breaks, public land roads, trails, recreation sites, and assist with planned burns.
This summer, 92 seasonal firefighters will be based in the Loddon Mallee Region, working from depots across the region.
Last year, FFMVic firefighters responded to more than 1,265 bushfires across Victoria and delivered priority planned burns to help reduce the impact of future fires.
FFMVic chief fire officer Chris Hardman said they have had a diverse intake of recruits.
“Our seasonal forest and fire operations officers join us from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the communities we serve,” he said.
“They play a critical role alongside our experienced crews, responding to bushfires in some of the state’s most remote and challenging environments to keep communities safe.
“This summer, they’ll be part of a team of nearly 1800 frontline personnel and 1200 accredited incident management staff.”
