Country Fire Authority

What Country Fire Authority does

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is a statutory authority of the Victorian State Government, established under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958, and headquartered at 8 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East, Victoria, Australia. CFA is Victoria's primary volunteer-based fire and emergency services organisation for regional and rural areas, complementing Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) which serves metropolitan Melbourne. The organisation operates through a network of over 1,200 local brigades supported by a 10,000+ workforce, the majority of whom are volunteer firefighters serving their local communities. CFA delivers 24/7 emergency fire and rescue response, bushfire preparedness, fire safety education, smoke alarm advocacy, burn-off regulation, and volunteer management across the state.

CFA's core products and services include the Smoke Alarms Program, Fire Danger Ratings and warnings delivered via the VicEmergency platform, the Fire Permits Victoria online permit system, community fire safety education (including the Early Fire Safe and Reduce The Risk Programs), and a volunteer recruitment and management platform. Underlying infrastructure comprises eight Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre (VEMTC) locations (Bangholme, Central Highlands, Huntly, Longerenong, Penshurst, Sunraysia, Wangaratta, West Sale), with the Central Highlands site featuring 19 training props including LPG-powered simulated fire systems, structure pads with multi-story scenarios, and an on-site water management system that captures, treats, and reuses training water. CFA also sells fire incident and investigation reports through its FIRS department on a transactional basis.

CFA's business model is predominantly government-funded, with revenue derived from Victorian State Government appropriations supplemented by minor streams: transaction-fee fire report sales, donations to the CFA & Brigades Donations Fund and CFA Public Fund, and educational program delivery. Core emergency services are provided to the public at no direct charge. GTM motion is event-driven, with service access through Triple Zero (000) emergency calls, online self-service portals, and direct community engagement via 1,200+ local brigades. Neil Bibby serves as Chief Executive Officer, and the organisation coordinates with peer agencies including FRV, SES Victoria, Victoria Police, and Emergency Management Victoria within an integrated state emergency management framework.

Name

Country Fire Authority

Legal name

Country Fire Authority

Website

https://cfa.vic.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Country Fire Authority (CFA) is a Victorian Government statutory authority operating 1,200+ volunteer brigades to deliver fire, rescue, and community safety services across regional and rural Victoria, funded primarily by state appropriations and led by CEO Neil Bibby.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Fire and Rescue Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Business Services, Nec (7389)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Public Safety & Emergency Management (Police, Fire, EMS Oversight) (BPAIABAG), Wildfire Suppression & Incident Response (AFAMAEAE)

Keywords

• Fire emergency services
• Volunteer fire brigades
• Bushfire preparedness
• Community fire safety
• Fire safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Waverley

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: CFA operates as a government-funded emergency services authority, receiving funding from the Victorian Government to provide fire services, emergency response, and community safety programs across Victoria.
2. Fire Report Sales: CFA sells fire incident reports and fire investigation reports through the Fire and Incident Reporting Systems (FIRS) department. Three types available: Fire Incident Summary Report, Fire Incident Full Report, and Fire Investigation Report. Fees are detailed on the Fees and Charges page.
3. Donations and Fundraising: CFA accepts donations to the CFA & Brigades Donations Fund and CFA Public Fund. Community members can donate to support local brigades and the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Country Fire Authority (CFA) is a Victorian government statutory authority that provides volunteer-based fire and emergency services across regional and rural Victoria. Its core offerings include fire suppression and emergency response through 1,200+ brigades, bushfire preparedness and survival planning, fire safety education programs for schools and communities, smoke alarm compliance guidance, an online fire permit registration system, and a network of eight Victorian Emergency Management Training Centres (VEMTC) for firefighter training.

Product overview

Country Fire Authority (CFA) is Victoria's rural fire service offering a portfolio of fire safety products and services focused on community protection. The core offerings include smoke alarm safety programs, fire danger ratings and warnings delivered through the VicEmergency platform, an online fire permit system (Fire Permits Victoria), and volunteer recruitment across over 1,200 brigades. CFA operates the Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre (VEMTC) network with eight training facilities statewide. The organization provides community fire safety education including the Early Fire Safe Program and Reduce The Risk Program, complemented by multilingual publications in over 30 languages. CFA also offers the CFA Members Online portal for volunteer management. These products work together to deliver CFA's mission of protecting lives and property through prevention, preparedness, response, and training services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smoke Alarms Program Fire safety program providing smoke alarm installation guidance, maintenance recommendations, and 10-year long-life battery alarm information for Victorian homes to ensure early fire detection.
• Fire Danger Ratings and Warnings Real-time fire danger ratings, total fire ban declarations, and emergency warnings delivered through the VicEmergency platform covering all Victorian fire districts.
• Fire Permit System (Fire Permits Victoria) Online burn-off and fire permit registration system enabling property owners to legally register and conduct private burns during fire danger periods in Victoria.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Management Volunteer program offering roles in firefighting, community education, operational support, and administrative functions across over 1,200 brigades throughout Victoria.
• VEMTC Training Centres Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre (VEMTC) network providing advanced firefighter training facilities at eight locations including Bangholme, Central Highlands, Huntly, Longerenong, Penshurst, Sunraysia, Wangaratta, and West Sale.
• Community Fire Safety Education Fire safety education programs including the Early Fire Safe Program, Reduce The Risk Program, school education resources, and multilingual safety publications in over 30 languages.
• CFA Members Online Portal Online member portal providing CFA volunteers access to personal records, training information, and brigade communications.
• Fire Safety Publications and Resources Comprehensive fire safety publications including guides, checklists, brochures, and audio files covering bushfire survival planning, home fire safety, and fire danger ratings, available in multiple languages.
• Fire Incident Reports (FIRS) Fire incident reports available for purchase through the Fire and Incident Reporting Systems (FIRS) department, including Fire Incident Summary Report, Fire Incident Full Report, and Fire Investigation Report.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research shows only 45% of properties attended by fire services had smoke alarms, and of those, 31% were not working, highlighting CFA's ongoing education impact
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEECA is the Victorian government department responsible for environment and climate action. CFA works with DEECA on burn-off registrations and shares information about private burn-offs through their websites during ignition periods.
• Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRV provides fire and rescue services in urban areas of Victoria. CFA and FRV work together on emergency response and share information through each other's platforms. CFA and FRV operate within defined boundaries across Victoria.
• Victoria State GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA operates as a statutory authority under the Victorian Government, receiving government funding and operating within the state's emergency management framework alongside SES Victoria, Victoria Police, and Emergency Management Victoria.
• SES Victoria (State Emergency Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSES Victoria works alongside CFA in emergency management, providing storm and flood assistance as part of Victoria's integrated emergency services response.
• Victoria PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictoria Police collaborate with CFA on emergency response and road crash rescue capabilities as part of Victoria's emergency services framework.
• Emergency Management Victoria (EMV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMV coordinates emergency management across Victoria, working with CFA as part of the state's integrated emergency response system.
• Victorian Building AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VBA identifies buildings requiring inspection as part of the statewide cladding audit. CFA works with the VBA on fire safety concerns regarding external cladding on buildings.
• Expression AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpression Australia provides smoke alarm subsidies for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, in partnership with CFA's specialized smoke alarm programs.
• Moorabool ShireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA worked closely with Moorabool Shire to select the VEMTC Central Highlands site to minimize the economic impact of Fiskville closure on the surrounding community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NSW Rural Fire Service: Largest volunteer-based fire service in Australia, serving rural and regional NSW. Closest functional peer to CFA: similar volunteer model, similar bushfire mandate, similar statutory authority governance, similar community education programs, and comparable scale (70,000+ volunteers).
• Queensland Fire and Emergency Services: Combined paid and volunteer fire and emergency service for Queensland. Comparable in delivering rural fire response, community education, and emergency management across a large state with significant bushfire exposure.
• ACT Emergency Services Agency: Statutory authority providing fire and emergency services to the Australian Capital Territory. Comparable in governance model, community education programs, and integrated emergency service coordination.
• Tasmania Fire Service: State-level fire and emergency service for Tasmania with similar bushfire-prone profile to CFA's regional Victoria. Comparable statutory structure, volunteer brigades, and bushfire education programs.
• Department of Fire and Emergency Services (Western Australia): WA's primary fire and emergency service, combining urban and rural response. Comparable in delivering state-wide fire suppression, rescue, community education, and emergency management under a unified statutory framework.
• Country Fire Service (South Australia): South Australia's volunteer fire and emergency service serving rural communities. Directly comparable volunteer brigade structure, bushfire response focus, and statutory authority governance model to CFA's regional model.
• Fire Rescue Victoria: Statutory fire and rescue service for metropolitan Melbourne and large urban centres of Victoria. Directly comparable as a sister Victorian fire authority — CFA covers regional/rural areas, FRV covers urban areas, with shared emergency response framework, government funding model, and overlapping VEMTC training infrastructure.

Regional players

• St John Ambulance Australia: Australian charitable organization providing volunteer-based emergency response (primarily pre-hospital care and medical transport). Adjacent emergency services peer — not fire-suppression, but comparable volunteer-driven, government-aligned emergency response model serving similar communities.

Emerging players

• Forestry Corporation of NSW: Statutory body managing NSW state forests including bushfire prevention, hazard reduction burning, and firefighting on forested lands. Has partial overlap with CFA's bushfire response work, focused specifically on forestry/fire management on public land.

Broad incumbents

• Emergency Management Victoria: Statutory authority that coordinates emergency management across Victoria, including CFA, FRV, SES, and Victoria Police. A broader portfolio player; CFA operates under EMV's integrated framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cfa_updates
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cfavic
• Facebookfacebook.com/cfavic
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/cfavic
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfavic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Country Fire Authority