Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Since the merger of the fire boards in 1990, the Queensland state firefighting agency has operated under several names:

• Queensland Fire Service 1990–1997
• Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority 1997–2001
• Queensland Fire and Rescue Service 2001–present

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service is made up of approximately 2200 professional and 2000 auxiliary (on-call) firefighters, responsible for responding to most emergencies. Firefighters are trained and work in a command structure with standards to ensure safety. Becoming a Queensland Fire and Rescue Service firefighter involves a selection process, after which successful candidates undertake a four-month recruitment course. Recruits then go on to complete study and training in all disciplines of rescue, wildfires, structural fires and major emergencies.

• Rural Fire Board 1927–1931
• Rural Fire Board 1948–1990
• Rural Fire Service Queensland 1990–present

The first Rural Fire Board was established in 1927 with the Rural Fires Act of 1927 (Qld), which was suspended in 1931 due to the Great Depression. The boards were re-established in 1948, and merged with the Department of Emergency Services in 1990, becoming the Rural Fire Service (RFS). In 2014, the RFS was merged into the QFES.[7]

Queensland's firefighters undertake a range of planning and preparation activities throughout the year, including structural firefighting, wildland (forest and grassland) fires, vertical rescue, swift water rescue, road crash rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, urban search and rescue (USAR) and hazardous material mitigation. Fire hazard (vegetation fires) mitigation and response is the primary role of Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire Service in the outer areas.

Rural Fire Brigades, in conjunction with Rural Fire Service permanent staff, Fire & rescue Service, local councils, national parks rangers, and local landholders, undertake a range of planning and preparation activities throughout the year to prepare communities for the fire season. One of these activities is hazard reduction burns. Hazard reduction burns use fire under controlled circumstances to reduce excess vegetation and minimise the potential for bushfires to spread.

QFES professional firefighters visit schools and engage in a range of community education activities to prepare the community for emergencies.

The Fire and Emergency Services Regulation 2011 (Qld) regulates the use of fire by not allowing fires to be lit without a specific permit. Fire wardens and authorized fire officers manage the permit to light fire system.

A permit to light fire is required for any fire that exceeds two meters in any direction and can be acquired free of charge from a fire warden.

QFES professional firefighters cover the major population areas across most of Queensland. Rural Fire Brigade volunteers respond to the outbreak of fires within their local area, as well as in surrounding areas to support other rural bushfire brigades and emergency services. QFES is made up of the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue Service that together provide a stronger response to large-scale bushfires.

All elements of QFES are often sent on deployment to assist other Australian states during disasters. Both professional and volunteer services are also used for state-based deployments.

The Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) is a statewide organisation of volunteers who respond to emergencies and disasters across Queensland as needed. They are trained and equipped by local councils and QFES to help their communities across a range of functions. The basic concept of the SES is one of self-help and mutual assistance within each community.

SES members also assist other emergency services by providing emergency lighting, emergency welfare services, management of traffic at emergency scenes, and emergency communications.

• 4th Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE"
• 3rd Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and single chevron
• 2nd Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double chevron
• Qualified 1st Class Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple chevron
• Senior Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", triple chevron and gold crossed axes
• Leading Firefighter – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", "LEADING FIREFIGHTER" with triple chevron and gold crossed axes – as of 2019, this rank is being phased out
• Station Officer – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double impeller
• Inspector – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple impeller
• Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", single impeller and crown
• Chief Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE", double impeller and crown
• Assistant Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels
• Deputy Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels and a single impeller
• Commissioner – Black epaulette with white embroidered "Fire and Emergency Services", crossed branches with laurels and a single crown

• Auxiliary Support – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and 'AUXILIARY SUPPORT'
• Firefighter – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' (Grade 1 & 2)
• Firefighter (5 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with single bar
• Firefighter (10 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with double bar
• Firefighter (15 Years) – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' with triple bar
• Lieutenant – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and single impeller
• Captain – Black epaulette with red embroidered 'FIRE & RESCUE' and double impeller

• Fire Communications Officer 1.1 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS" and lightning bolt
• Fire Communications Officer 1.2 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", a single chevron and lightning bolt
• Fire Communications Officer 1.3 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", two chevrons and lightning bolt
• Fire Communications Officer 1.4 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", three chevrons and lightning bolt
• Fire Communications Officer 1.5 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", three chevrons, lightning bolt and single bar
• Fire Communications Supervisor – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", double impeller and lightning bolt
• Fire Communications Manager – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered "COMMUNICATIONS", triple impeller and lightning bolt

• Volunteer Scientific Officer – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC'
• Volunteer Scientific Officer (5 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with single bar
• Volunteer Scientific Officer (10 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with double bar
• Volunteer Scientific Officer (15 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with triple bar

• Scientific Support Officer – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC'
• Scientific Support Officer (5 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with single bar
• Scientific Support Officer (10 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with double bar
• Scientific Support Officer (15 Years) – Black epaulette with light blue embroidered 'SCIENTIFIC' with triple bar

• Inspector – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and triple impeller
• Superintendent – lack epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and single impeller and crown
• Chief Superintendent – Black epaulette with white embroidered "FIRE & RESCUE" and double impeller and crown

• Member – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS'
• Firefighter – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single bar
• Senior Firefighter – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double bar
• Crew Leader – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and triple bar
• Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single impeller
• 1st Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller

• Deputy Group Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and single impeller with bar
• Group Officer – Ink Navy epaulette with yellow embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller with bar

• Rural Officer 1 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' with single bar
• Rural Officer 2 – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' with double bar
• Rural Inspector – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and triple impeller
• Rural Superintendent – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' single impeller and crown
• Rural Chief Superintendent – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'RFS' and double impeller and crown
• Rural Assistant Commissioner – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'FIRE & EMERGENCY' and wreath with crossed branches

Ranks on SES

• Community Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES'
• Field Operations Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and single chevron
• Senior Field Operations Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double chevrons
• Leading Field Operations Member – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and triple chevrons
• Deputy Group Leader – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and single cyclone
• Group Leader – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double cyclone

• Deputy Local Controller – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double cyclone with single bar
• Local Controller – Ink Navy epaulette with orange embroidered 'SES' and double cyclone with double bar

• SES Officer Grade One – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' and single white cyclone
• SES Officer Grade Two – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' and double white cyclone
• Area Director – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' and triple white cyclone
• Executive Manager – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' with single white cyclone and crown
• Regional Director – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'SES' with double white cyclone and crown
• SES Assistant Commissioner – Ink Navy epaulette with white embroidered 'FIRE & EMERGENCY' and wreath with crossed branches

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service medals and ribbons are worn in accordance with the strict Order of Precedence below, from center to right. The award with the highest precedence is worn closest to the centre of the chest and on the top row of ribbon bars when more than four awards are worn.[8]

	Commissioner's Medal for Valour
	Commissioner's Distinguished Service Medal
	Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery
	Commissioner's Meritorious Service Award
	Diligent And Ethical Service Medal
	QFES Medal
	SES Meritorious Service Medal

Citations are worn centrally, 5mm above the nameplate on the right breast pocket of service shirts, tunics and coats. The Order of Precedence for Queensland Fire and Emergency Service citations is as follows:[8]

	Commissioner's Unit Citation
	G20 Citation
	2010–2011 Queensland Flood and Cyclone Citation
	XXI Commonwealth Games Citation

Fire and Rescue stations are numbered by the region and command it's located in, followed by 3rd digit.

For example, Station 482 (Caloundra) is situated in North Coast Region (see above), Caloundra Command, Station 2.

FRS appliance callsigns are formulated with the station number and a letter denoting the type of appliance.

RFS brigades are named by their locality. For example, Landsborough Rural Fire Brigade, Ilkley and District RFB and Maleny RFB.

RFS callsigns are formulated with the brigade name appended with the number of appliance.

If a brigade has multiple of one type, the last digit is increased by one, for example Ilkley and District 51 and 52.