Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES)

Fire and emergency

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is the primary provider of fire and emergency services in Queensland.

Maintained by a unique mix of approximately 30,000 Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers, 6000 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, approximately 2,200 permanent firefighters, more than 2000 auxiliary firefighters and supported by non-operational administrative support staff, QFES responds to:

  • Structural, landscape and vehicle fire;
  • Road crash rescue;
  • Swift water and water rescue;
  • Storm and natural disaster;
  • Building fire safety;
  • Hazardous condition incidents;
  • Land, marine, air and urban search and rescue;
  • Crime scene, missing person and forensic searches;
  • Animal disease outbreaks; and
  • Communications.

The QFES aims to protect person, property and the environment through the delivery of emergency services, awareness programs, response capability and capacity (preparedness), and incident response and recovery for a safer Queensland.

Read more about volunteering with the Rural Fire Service or State Emergency Service.

Rural Fire Service

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is the volunteer arm of the QFES operating in rural, semi-rural and urban fringe areas where there is no urban fire service coverage.

The RFS consists of approximately 30,000 volunteers from 1500 rural fire brigades across the state.

RFS volunteers provide services in their local area, including:

Read more about volunteering with the Rural Fire Service.