State Fire Services Council Car No 10, Hobart, 1972

www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/items/ITM1545600

 

The QFES is the result of 150 years of evolution in Queensland's firefighting services; in fact the QFS was born in 1860 after a fire destroyed a Brisbane cabinet making workshop. The early years were tough for the Brisbane Fire Brigade and it was not until 1889 that the first firemen was employed.

 

The first legislation for rural fire management was the Act to Prevent the Careless Use of Fire 1865, and for state fire management, the Fire Brigades Act 1876. In 1990, the Queensland Fire Service and the Rural Fires Council were formed replacing the 81 Fire Boards in local government areas and the Rural Fires Board; this was the first step in creating a single fire service for Queensland.

 

In 1997, it became the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority and 2001 saw another name change to the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

 

In 2013, QFRS merged with EMQ and the Corporate Services Division of the Department of Community Safety to become the current Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, encompassing Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, parts of the State Emergency Service, Emergency Management and the Rural Fire Service.

 

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service professional Firefighters ensure a balance between the reduction of risk and enhancement of community resilience, whilst providing effective response and recovery capabilities in the primary hazard response areas of: fire and explosion; accident; rescue; environmental and imminent or declared disaster.

 

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services provides specialist personnel with the skills and ability to provide combat support services for: land, marine, air and urban search and rescue; crime scene and forensic searches; missing person searches; animal disease outbreaks and communications.

 

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service

 

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service is made up of approximately 2200 professional and 2000 Auxiliary (part-time) firefighters that are responsible for responding to almost every emergency. They are highly trained and work in a command structure with high standards to ensure safety. They have a proud history of protecting all Queenslanders and are highly valued by the community. They look after Queensland's Assets and population. To become a professional Firefighter involves a rigorous selection process, after which successful candidates undertake a four-month recruitment course. They then go on to partake in many years of intense study and training in all disciplines of rescue, wildfires, structural fires and major emergencies.

 

The Rural Fire Service (RFS), made up of approximately 9 000 volunteers (5000 active), approximately 1400 rural fire brigades. They are mainly responsible for responding to bushfires and have some land management capability. The current QFES model means that volunteers will support the Fire & Rescue Service in any emergency as required.

 

Queensland's professional Firefighters undertake a range of planning and preparation activities throughout the year. They are trained in Structural Firefighting, Wildland (forest and grassland) fires, vertical rescue, swift water rescue, road crash rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue and urban search and rescue (USAR) and Hazardous material mitigation. Fire hazard (vegetation fires) mitigation and response is the primary role of Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service in the outer areas. Rural Fire Brigades, in conjunction with Rural Fire Service permanent staff, Fire & rescue Service, local councils, national parks rangers, and local landholders, undertake a range of planning and preparation activities throughout the year to ensure communities are well prepared for the fire season.

 

One of these activities is hazard reduction burns. Hazard reduction burns use fire under controlled circumstances to reduce excess vegetation and minimise the potential for bushfires to get out of control.

 

The Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) is a statewide organisation of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds who respond to emergencies and disasters across the State as needed. They are trained and equipped by local councils and QFES, to help their communities across a range of functions, and their primary purpose is to assist the community. The SES is designed to empower people to help themselves and others in their community in times of emergency and disaster. The basic concept is one of self-help and mutual assistance within each community.

 

SES members also assist other emergency services with provision of: emergency lighting; emergency welfare services; management of traffic at emergency scenes and emergency communications.

 

Rank and structure

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Professional Firefighters

4th Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE"

3rd Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and single chevron

2nd Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double chevron

Qualified 1st Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple chevron

Senior Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", triple chevron and gold crossed axes

Leading Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE","LEADING FIREFIGHTER" with triple chevron and gold crossed axes - as of 2019, this rank is being phased out

Station Officer – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double impeller

Inspector – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple impeller

Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", single impeller and crown

Chief Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", double impeller and crown

Assistant Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels

Deputy Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels and a single impeller

Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels and a single crown

Fire and Rescue Service Auxiliary Firefighter

Auxiliary Support – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and 'AUXILIARY SUPPORT'

Firefighter – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' (Grade 1 & 2)

Firefighter (5 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with single bar

Firefighter (10 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with double bar

Firefighter (15 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with triple bar

Lieutenant – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and single impeller

Captain – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and double impeller

Fire Communications

Fire Communications Officer 1.1 - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS" and lightning bolt

Fire Communications Officer 1.2 - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", a single chevron and lightning bolt

Fire Communications Officer 1.3 - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", two chevrons and lightning bolt

Fire Communications Officer 1.4 - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", three chevrons and lightning bolt

Fire Communications Officer 1.5 - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", three chevrons, lightning bolt and single bar

Fire Communications Supervisor - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", double impeller and lightning bolt

Fire Communications Manager - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", triple impeller and lightning bolt

Fire & Rescue Scientific Branch

Volunteers

Volunteer Scientific Officer – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC'

Volunteer Scientific Officer (5 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with single bar

Volunteer Scientific Officer (10 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with double bar

Volunteer Scientific Officer (15 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with triple bar

Volunteers (Brisbane Based)

Scientific Support Officer – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC'

Scientific Support Officer (5 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with single bar

Scientific Support Officer (10 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with double bar

Scientific Support Officer (15 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with triple bar

Senior Officers

Inspector – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple impeller

Superintendent - lack epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and single impeller and crown

Chief Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double impeller and crown

Rural Fire Service (Paid and non-paid staff)

Volunteers

Member – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS'

Firefighter – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single bar

Senior Firefighter – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double bar

Crew Leader - Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and triple bar

Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single impeller

1st Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller

Representational Positions

Deputy Group Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single impeller with bar

Group Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller with bar

Staff (Paid)

Rural Officer 1 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' with single bar

Rural Officer 2 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' with double bar

Rural Inspector – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and triple impeller

Rural Superintendent – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' single impeller and crown

Rural Chief Superintendent – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller and crown

Rural Assistant Commissioner – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'FIRE & EMERGENCY' and wreath with crossed branches

State Emergency Service (Paid and non-paid staff)

Ranks on SES

 

Volunteers

 

Community Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES'

Field Operations Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and single chevron

Senior Field Operations Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double chevrons

Leading Field Operations Member - Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and triple chevrons

Deputy Group Leader – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and single cyclone

Group Leader – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double cyclone

Representational Positions

Deputy Local Controller – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double cyclone with single bar

Local Controller – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double cyclone with double bar

Staff (Paid)

SES Officer Grade One – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' and single white cyclone

SES Officer Grade Two – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' and double white cyclone

Area Director – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' and triple white cyclone

Executive Manager – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' with single white cyclone and crown

Regional Director - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' with double white cyclone and crown

SES Assistant Commissioner - Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'FIRE & EMERGENCY' and wreath with crossed branches

 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Fire_and_Emergency_Servi...

 

Done