Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has publicly defended her government's financial support for the Country Fire Authority (CFA), even as volunteers voice escalating anger over ageing and broken-down equipment during the state's severe bushfire crisis.
Volunteers Speak Out on Dangerous Conditions
CFA volunteers have taken to social media and other channels to express grave concerns about the state of their firefighting vehicles. They report being deployed to active fire fronts in trucks that are up to 30 years old, with some lacking basic air conditioning while operating in temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius.
Other volunteers claim that dozens of vehicles are currently out of service, undergoing urgent repairs, and were unavailable on some of the season's most catastrophic fire days. The collective fear is that this situation is unnecessarily putting their lives at risk as they work to protect Victorian communities.
Premier's Defence Points to Increased Funding
Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, Premier Allan countered the criticism by highlighting increased preparations and funding ahead of the current fire season. She specifically pointed to an additional $80 million allocation made to the CFA for aircraft, extra equipment, awareness campaigns, and access to water storages.
"We've been supporting our emergency services, supporting our CFA and volunteers, and my government will always support our CFA and volunteers to have the resources they need to protect communities," Allan stated.
The Premier said she had discussed vehicle safety directly with the CFA chief fire officer and received assurances that all deployed equipment is safe. "The advice from the chief fire officer is the safety of all of our volunteers is absolutely paramount," she emphasised.
A Stark Disconnect on the Ground
Despite the Premier's assurances, a clear disconnect remains between government statements and the experiences reported by volunteers on the fireground. Some have raised specific issues about trucks still having external rear seating, which leaves firefighters fully exposed to extreme heat and embers when battling active fire fronts.
Challenged by Sunrise host Monique Wright on whether enough had been done, Allan reiterated her confidence in the CFA's safety protocols. "The CFA has been absolutely clear, all vehicles that are put out into the fire grounds for volunteers, they are all safe and appropriate," she said.
The funding debate unfolds against a backdrop of devastating fire damage across the state. As of Monday morning, fires have burned through approximately 390,000 hectares of land, destroyed at least 300 structures, and claimed one life. Major fires continue to burn from East Gippsland into the northeast and in the Otways, with multiple emergency warnings still active.
