2025 marks the 80th Anniversary of CFA, an organisation quite literally - forged by fire. VFBV pays tribute to each of the amazing men and women of not only today's CFA, but all those past and future.
The Country Fire Authority was forged by fire. Created by an Act of Parliament following a Royal Commission into the devastating bushfires of 1939, the architects sought more effective control of the prevention and suppression of fires.
But from a volunteer perspective, Victorian fire brigades existed long before.
CFA’s origin story over its first year involves 185 brigades transferring from the Country Fire Brigades Board, and 776 brigades from the Bush Fire Brigades Committee. The volunteer associations predate CFA also, with our genesis grounded by the formation of the Country Fire Brigades Association in 1885, and the Bush Fire Brigades Association in 1928. These associations would become the Urban (VUFBA) and the Rural (VRFBA) associations, which merged to form the VFBV of today.
And while many volunteers were cautious of centralised organisation and the perceived loss of their brigade identity and equipment, CFA’s early successes would prove resounding. CFA benefited from the skill and local knowledge of its volunteers, and brigades benefited from the shared leadership and resources of the authority.
Over time, each has contributed to the evolution of the other, forever establishing that CFA as a united force in defence of its communities would always be greater than the sum of each of its individual parts.
The innovation and ingenuity of CFA volunteers has led CFA to be amongst the preeminent fire services in the world, the contributions of its members central to its success.
Countless innovations pursued, such as the first 800-gallon tanker followed by the 400-gallon composite small-town tanker - both born from brigade experiments, a tradition that continues to this day. So too was the introduction by volunteers of field radio’s, leading to CFA adopting mobile radio and base stations that revolutionised comms. The grassland fire spreader plotter invented by a CFA volunteer was the precursor to today’s fire prediction modelling, with even the term ‘Total Fire Ban’ adopted after volunteer insistence that the precursor term ‘Acute Fire Danger Day’ did not properly capture the imperative intended.
And while fires have significantly impacted CFA’s history, legislation and operating model, it is impossible to quantify the positive impact CFA, and its brigades have had on our communities and the people of Victoria. And while history only captures the losses, the ‘saves’ are no doubt exponentially higher still.
Thank you to all the generations that have come before, and those who will proceed us. For surely the true value of the organisation is found within its people - the brave and selfless CFA men and women who not only stand in defence of their communities when required but tirelessly educate, plan and prepare for the prevention of fire and other disasters in the first place. This rich legacy is cause for optimism that the next 80 years will be just as profound as the first.
Adam Barnett
Chief Executive Officer, Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria.
CFA is unveiling 80 stories in 80 days detailing the pivotal moment, challenges and triumphs that have shaped our history. You can visit the site here: 80 in 80 | CFA (Country Fire Authority)
