| Country Fire Authority |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY | |
| emergency services | |
| victoria | |
| fire departments of australia | |
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The Country Fire Authority is the name of the mixed Rural (1023 stations)and Urban (252 stations) fire service that provides fire fighting services to all of the country areas and regional townships within the state of Victoria , Australia and some of the outer suburban areas of Melbourne not covered by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade which addresses fire-related problems in suburban Melbourne . The CFA, as it is commonly known, draws the majority of its officers and members from the local community on a Volunteer basis. The CFA is one of the worlds largest Volunteer based firefighting organisations. It services more than 150,000 square KM's and currently has approximately 60,000 active volunteers with more than 400 career fire fighters and 700 career support staff. There are over 1200 brigades with more than 2300 vehicles across twenty regions in nine areas. The vehicles are made up of nearly 1300 Tankers, 240 Pumpers, seven Aerial Appliances, thirty Rescue Units and various other special purpose and Command and Support vehicles. This fleet is supplemented by over 730 brigade owned vehicles. Brigade owned vehicles are bought and paid for by the individual brigades and communities to allow extension of brigade fire fighting capability. The vehicles range from four Wheel Drive Quick Attack and Quickfill appliances to full size four Wheel Driver Tankers. Funding is provided in part by the Victorian state Government and the Insurance agencies who service the area. Money is collected via a Fire Levy though Council rates. CFA currently operates under the Country Fire Authority Act of 1958 and its amendments. This legislation was bought about by significant bushfires during the period 1939-1944 which killed 114 people and destroyed nearly 1400 homes while also damaging large areas of the state and destroying significant amounts of stock. Subsequent investigations showed the lack of a cohesive fire fighting agency outside the central metropolitan area and the CFA was born on 2nd April 1945. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |