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| DFES (Western Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Department of Fire and Emergency Services (Western Australia) |
| Native name | DFES |
| Formed | 1999 |
| Preceding1 | Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia |
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Headquarters | Perth |
| Minister | Minister for Emergency Services |
| Chief1 name | Commissioner of DFES |
| Website | DFES |
DFES (Western Australia) is the primary statutory authority responsible for firefighting, emergency response, hazard mitigation and resilience across Perth, Fremantle, Kalgoorlie, Albany, and regional Western Australian communities. It coordinates with agencies such as St John Ambulance Australia, Western Australia Police, Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Defence Force, and local volunteer brigades to manage incidents ranging from bushfires to urban structural collapses. DFES operates within legislative frameworks like the Emergency Management Act 2005 and interacts with bodies including the State Emergency Service and the Western Australian Local Government Association.
DFES traces administrative lineage to entities such as the Fire Service Act 1942 era organisations, the Fire Brigades Board and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, culminating in formation as DFES in 1999 under Western Australian reform initiatives led by premiers and ministers responsible for emergency services. Major incidents shaping DFES history include the Perth Hills bushfires, the Great Southern bushfires, the Margaret River floods, the 2009 Perth heatwave, and national-aligned responses to events like the Black Saturday bushfires and the Canberra bushfires which influenced interstate cooperation with agencies such as the Country Fire Authority, Rural Fire Service, and Tasmania Fire Service. The agency’s evolution was affected by inquiries and reviews such as those following the Waroona bushfire and state reviews led by commissioners, ministers, and advisory panels including representatives from Curtin University, University of Western Australia, and emergency management practitioners.
DFES provides firefighting, rescue, hazardous materials response and emergency coordination across metropolitan and remote localities including Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt, and Great Southern. It maintains mutual aid agreements with the Australian Red Cross, Surf Life Saving Australia, Royal Flying Doctor Service, and maritime partners including Australian Maritime Safety Authority for coastal incidents. DFES delivers community warnings through systems compatible with Emergency Alert and liaises with national bodies such as the Attorney-General's Department and National Emergency Management Agency. Policy and regulatory interactions include liaison with the State Emergency Management Committee, Bushfire Council, and parliamentary oversight by ministers, shadow ministers and relevant committees.
DFES leadership comprises a Commissioner supported by executive directors overseeing divisions similar to counterparts in New South Wales Fire and Rescue, Victoria Country Fire Authority, and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Operational regions mirror Western Australian regional divisions such as Mid West, South West, and Great Southern, and include metropolitan commands in Perth CBD. The organisation integrates career firefighters, career officers, and volunteer brigades through structures comparable to those in New Zealand Fire Service and international models like the United States Forest Service cooperative frameworks. Governance involves advisory input from bodies including the Western Australian Audit Office, state ministers, and community sector representatives.
DFES conducts incident management for bushfire suppression, structural firefighting, specialist rescues including urban search and rescue and marine responses in conjunction with Water Police and Harbourmaster authorities. It manages mitigation programs such as hazard reduction burns informed by CSIRO research and satellite monitoring with agencies like Geoscience Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology. DFES operates emergency operations centres during events, provides medical first response coordination with St John Ambulance Australia and coordinates evacuations alongside local councils such as City of Perth, Shire of Broome, and Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. Mutual aid and interstate deployments involve arrangements with National Resource Sharing Centre frameworks and participation in national capability programs like the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.
DFES recruits and trains personnel through academies and programs partnering with institutions including TAFE WA, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, and national vocational frameworks such as the Australian Qualifications Framework. Training covers firefighting, incident management, hazardous materials, and community safety using curricula influenced by international standards from ISO, and collaboration with agencies like Fire and Rescue NSW and the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience. Volunteer recruitment is supported by local brigades across towns like Geraldton, Busselton, Albany and partnerships with community organisations such as Rotary International and Rural Financial Counselling Service to sustain regional capability.
DFES maintains a fleet including pumpers, tankers, aerial firefighting support coordinating with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre, rescue units, and specialist HAZMAT vehicles modeled on equipment used by Fire and Rescue NSW and providers such as Tenix Defence Systems. Aviation assets and contracted water-bombing aircraft operate alongside companies in the aviation sector and coordinate with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and military air resources from the Royal Australian Air Force when required. Communications infrastructure utilises radio networks compatible with standards from the Australian Communications and Media Authority and integrates technology from providers and research partners including CSIRO and university labs for incident situational awareness.
DFES runs community preparedness initiatives, public education campaigns, and firewise programs in collaboration with organisations such as the Australian Red Cross, Right to Information Office (WA), local councils, schools including Perth Modern School and community groups like Country Women’s Association. It promotes household emergency planning aligned with national guidance from the National Emergency Management Agency and distributes warnings via media partners like the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), commercial broadcasters, and social media platforms. Volunteer brigades and community resilience projects are supported through grants, training and partnerships with corporate donors, philanthropic trusts and research partnerships with institutions such as Murdoch University, Curtin University, and industry bodies.
Category:Emergency services in Western Australia