Victoria's fire fleets face $1.5 billion shortfall and aging equipment crisis
An audit reveals Victoria's fire services need about $1.5 billion over the next decade to replace aging trucks, but have received only roughly a quarter of that funding.
A parliamentary audit by the Victorian Auditor-General's Office disclosed that Victoria's fire-fighting fleets are aging and under-maintained, threatening response capacity in a fire-prone state. Approximately 57% of trucks operated by Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority are 15 years or older, with over a third exceeding 20 years, and none of the agencies complete all scheduled maintenance. The audit estimates a need for $1.5 billion from 2024-25 to 2033-34 to replace and upgrade vehicles, yet only about a quarter of that amount has been allocated.
DEECA's newer fleet suffers from planning oversights, resulting in faults such as overweight and cracked trucks, and more than half was withdrawn from service in 2025 before being returned under repair programs. The report issued six recommendations for better asset management, which the three authorities have agreed to adopt. The findings come as Premier Ben Carroll announced a $167 million investment for 150 new fire trucks by 2030, a move criticized by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson as insufficient.
Why it matters
Insufficient funding and aging fire trucks could hamper Victoria's ability to combat increasingly severe bushfires.
In this story
