Working with other agencies

The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) works closely with Parks Victoria during fire suppression and prevention practices on public land. Firefighting personnel from both agencies undertake training and skills maintenance before the start of each fire season. A large majority of the 2000 accredited and fully trained firefighters come from other business areas within DEPI including Agriculture, Fisheries, Catchment and Water Services, Flora and Fauna and Forests.

DEPI also works closely with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) on the rural / urban interface across Victoria. Each year both agencies attend the same fires on numerous occasions, with either DEPI or CFA controlling the fire as the lead agency.

At large scale incidents DEPI also works with numerous other agencies that aren't directly linked with fire. These include St Johns Ambulance, State Emergency Service, local councils, Red Cross, Australian Defence Force and Victoria Police.

DEPI has a strong working relationship with interstate fire agencies, and are well regarded on an international level. Crews from New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia, as well as firefighters from New Zealand, Canada and the United States have assisted during past fire seasons. In past years, Victorian firefighters have been sent interstate, and also the United States, to assist with their fires.

Canadian Firefighter Robert Krause

Greg Harry demonstrates the fire table