Your FRV

What is Fire Rescue Victoria?

Fire Rescue Victoria is a professional fire service which was created to meet the needs of Victoria’s growing population and changing risk profile. 

FRV is a fire and rescue service that was established on 1 July 2020 as part of Victoria’s Fire Service Reform. This reform overhauled Victoria’s antiquated fire service boundaries and brought all professional career firefighters together under one professional fire service. This reform was long overdue and had been recommended by more than eight inquiries over the past decade, including the 2009 Royal Commission into Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires.

FRV builds on the proud tradition of Victoria’s world class professional career firefighters. Its core purpose is to keep Victorian communities safe. 

As at 1 July 2020 (FRV’s date of commencement), there are 85 FRV fire stations across metropolitan, greater metropolitan Melbourne and the state’s fast-growing regional cities. FRV fire stations are staffed by professional career firefighters 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 

Whether you live in Melbourne CBD or a regional town protected by FRV, Carlton or Mildura, Sunshine or Traralgon, Wangaratta or Oakleigh, in an emergency you can trust your call for help will be answered by a highly trained professional career firefighter. 

FRV also keeps Victorians safer by delivering systemic change to building design, regulation and legislation. professional career firefighters also provide specialist, expert advice on national, state and local initiatives to ensure fire safety is prioritised. 

FRV is committed to reducing the number and impact of fires. Through building community resilience and educating the public on safety, FRV and emergencies engage with the community and building resilience. That includes education programs for children, adults, migrants and new arrivals, and seniors.

7.7 minute response time

In an emergency, every second counts. Rapid emergency response can be the difference between life and death. This is why Fire Rescue Victoria has a response time standard to fires of 7.7 minutes to save lives and protect property. 

There are 85 FRV stations across Victoria, which include 47 in metropolitan Melbourne and 38 in greater Melbourne and regional cities.

 In the case of fire, when a FRV station receives an emergency call in their response area, professional career firefighters have 90 seconds to don their Personal Protective Equipment and leave station and they have 7.7 minutes to arrive on scene and commence firefighting operations.

What is the Fire Services Property Levy?

Your Fire Services Property Levy pays for the Victorian fire services.

Local councils collect the levy and is made up of a fixed charge and a variable rate. From 1 July 2020 the variable rate is based on the capital improved value of the property and what type of property its, whether it’s a home or an office block, industrial site, or a public space. The same property rate applies across the state, regardless of where the property is located in Victoria. That is, Victorians currently pay the same rate regardless of whether their property is protected by professional career firefighters.

While the council collects the levy, the State Revenue Office monitors the collection of the levy which is then passed on to the Victorian Government.

More information can be found on the Government website: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/fire-services-property-levy

Fire District Review Panel

Victorian fire services reform also established the Fire District Review Panel in 2020.  The Panel is chaired by Valerie Callister PSM and comprises also of two other committee members, Anna Kilborn and Michael Walker AFSM.

The Fire District Review Panel has an important role to play now and in to the future. It is charged with the role of independently advising on whether a change in fire risk (or something that may result in a change in fire risk) warrants a review of the FRV Fire District and whether a community should now be protected by Professional Career Firefighters. 

In undertaking a review of the FRV Fire District, the Panel must conduct a risk-based assessment. They may consider, for example, population growth and service demand. 

Most importantly, the Panel may consult with any person or body as the Panel thinks fit.  That includes members of the community, like you!