Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) response times are worsening in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer suburbs, with data showing several stations are failing to meet FRV’s own response-time targets.
FRV’s targets require crews to reach structure fires within 7.7 minutes and other emergencies, including road crashes, within 9.2 minutes, 90 per cent of the time.
Analysis of data from ten FRV stations in designated growth areas found response times were slower than these targets and below the state average.
The latest Fire Services Outcomes Framework Progress Report states that FRV has not met its response-time targets since 2020, describing the issue as a community safety risk requiring action by FRV.
With emergency call-outs increasing and trucks unavailable for repair reaching critical levels, questions are being raised about whether fire service resources are keeping pace with Melbourne’s rapid population growth — and whether sufficient accountability is being applied at the leadership and government level.
ABC News charts the response times and the figures speak for themselves — and firefighters and the communities they serve deserve to be heard.
To hear more CLICK on the ABC News report below