The Fire Safety Conundrum in Victoria's Suburbs
The recent tragedy in Werribee, where a young boy lost his life in a house fire, has brought to light a concerning trend in Victoria's firefighting response times. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), the professional agency tasked with protecting the state, has consistently fallen short of its targets, especially in the rapidly growing outer suburbs.
What's intriguing is that FRV's struggles began right after its formation in 2020. The agency, which replaced the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and absorbed numerous regional centers, has missed its annual target of reaching 90% of structural fires within 7 minutes and 42 seconds. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the restructuring process and the allocation of resources.
A Battle for Resources
FRV's budget has seen a significant boost, with a 33% increase since 2020, largely attributed to rising wages. However, the United Firefighters Union (UFU) argues that this funding surge hasn't translated into adequate resources, especially in the outer suburbs. The union's stance is understandable, given the dire consequences of delayed response times.
The UFU's battle for a new pay deal adds another layer of complexity. The union's efforts secured substantial pay rises for firefighters, but the political fallout led to the replacement of the MFB with FRV. This restructuring aimed to modernize fire services, yet the results have been less than ideal.
The Human Cost of Delayed Response
The Werribee incident is a stark reminder of the human cost of delayed response times. The FRV crew, already stretched thin, was attending a car crash when the fire broke out. The closest CFA volunteer vehicle arrived 10 minutes after the call, followed by an FRV truck 11 minutes later. Both responses were well outside the benchmark, highlighting the strain on resources.
The former emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, pointed out the challenges of serving outer-suburban areas with rapidly growing populations and infrastructure demands. These areas, with their new housing estates and congested roads, require additional fire crews and equipment to keep up with the increasing call volume and complexity.
A Broken Promise?
The 2017 reforms promised to ensure that all Victorians, regardless of location, would have access to modern and local fire services. However, the reality seems to be falling short of this vision. The UFU's secretary, Peter Marshall, rightly points out that not a single new FRV fire station has been built since 2020, leaving many communities unprotected.
The government's response, emphasizing increased funding, doesn't address the core issue. While FRV's response times may be better than other states, they are still not meeting their own targets. The Liberal MP Nick McGowan's statement hits the nail on the head—the outer growth suburbs are being left behind in fire safety infrastructure.
A Complex Web of Challenges
The situation is further complicated by the CFA's improved performance in certain areas since the reforms. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the restructuring process and whether it has inadvertently created a resource imbalance.
In my opinion, the issue goes beyond funding. It's about strategic resource allocation, understanding the unique challenges of each area, and adapting to the changing landscape of Victoria's suburbs. The government and FRV must work together to address these concerns, ensuring that the promise of modern and local fire services becomes a reality for all Victorians.
