There are more than enough volunteers to respond to bushfires across Victoria this summer despite the service losing more than 2 per cent of its workforce, the Country Fire Authority's chief officer says.
The CFA's latest annual report shows a net loss of 1,381 volunteers in the 12 months to June.
It follows a net loss of 609 volunteers between July 1 2020 and June 30 2021.
The total number of volunteers is now 52,805.
The CFA's Jason Heffernan says population decline and COVID-19's negative impact on volunteer numbers — as well as the demands of the job — explain the decline.
"But I can assure the Victorian community our operational capacity remains strong all year round," he said.
"We've got 29,000-odd operational members across Victoria, and we've never used that many volunteers in an operational capacity through any fire season.
"CFA volunteers are not going to let [regional Victorians] down. They've been doing it for generations and will continue to do so well into the future."
Volunteers 'time-poor'
Peter Solly currently volunteers at Werrap, a farming area in the southern Mallee where the fire station is the only public building.
Mr Solly in 2021 received an Australian Fire Services Medal after being recognised for his ability to recruit young people to the local brigades.
"Convincing people at a busy time of year to turn up to the station and train is challenging," he says.
"I'm semi-retired, but people with full-time jobs are time-poor, especially in a year when they've had to deal with wet weather and flooding.
"When I joined over 50 years ago you could just join up. Now you have to have police checks, working with children checks and, until recently, you had to declare your vaccination status [to be eligible]."
Holding a 'position of trust'
CFA members must undertake tree hazard awareness training every three years and entrapment training every 12 months.
Mr Solly said he supported the timetable and that selling regular training was something he "worked very hard" at.
Mr Heffernan said he had not seen any evidence that vaccination status had deterred potential new recruits.
He said the community expected the CFA to ensure its members were ready to serve them.
"CFA members hold an absolute position of trust. They interact with families on days that are their absolute worst, and that is why we make sure our members are ready," Mr Heffernan said.
He hoped recent state government investments in 50 new tankers and the rollout of new workwear for CFA members would encourage more people to join.
The CFA also launched an online volunteer recruitment hub on March 30 to reduce the time it took for people to become active members.
