AFTER years of campaigning by councils across NSW, the state government has announced it will take ownership of the Rural Fire Service’s red fleet of more than 6,000 firefighting vehicles currently carried on local government balance sheets. Country mayors, regional councils, local representatives and emergency services leaders have welcomed the major reform, which is expected to take effect from 1 July 2027 following a year of engagement with councils. The reform will consolidate operational responsibility for the red fleet under the state government for the first time since the RFS was established almost 30 years ago. “Having the red fleet […]
