Originally Posted by
Bend alot
I think a major issue is most people think the RFS/CFA are "supplemented" with volunteers that fire fight.
The "firefighters" are the volunteers in the rural areas.
Urban firefighters get paid and work for Fire and Rescue and are responsible for fires in their boundaries. The similarity could be Fire and Rescue NSW and the airport fire service at Sydney airport, they are two completely separate things, but when things go bad they can support each other with "excess" resources but each must maintain it's minimum level of service to it's primary role. So the RFS does get some limited support during the fires but must maintain X resources to protect it's defined area and response times, leaving the RFS mostly using volunteers.
My personal opinion is RFS should have full time front line staff (equal to the number of police in that area as a start) and they are supplemented with volunteers.
As far as aircraft match the Canadian fleet and share them over the two seasons staggering if needed.
Not sure which 'most people' think that..
Fire Rescue NSW has a mix of career and 'retained' (paid part time) staff.
NSW Parks also has full time and paid seasonal staff.
If there's a need for more paid firefighters then placing them in agencies that do currently employ them rather than fundamentally restructuring the RFS. You haven't explained why you think it's a necessary measure.