Firefighter organisations have issued a stark public warning that Victoria is not bushfire ready, as concerns grow about frontline capability heading into the peak of summer, including what this could mean for communities across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
In an open letter sent to Premier Jacinta Allan on 6 January 2026, the CFA Volunteers Group, United Firefighters Union Victoria, and the Across Victoria Alliance say firefighters are being asked to protect the state through what could be a severe season without the equipment, resourcing and investment they believe is required to do the job safely.
The letter, titled “Victoria is not bushfire ready,” formally places the Victorian Government “on notice,” warning that the risk of catastrophic outcomes, including loss of life and property, is foreseeable and preventable.
The organisations say morale among both career and volunteer firefighters is at an all-time low, which they attribute to what they describe as years of underinvestment in frontline capability.
Concerns over aging fire trucks and equipment
A major focus of the letter is the age and condition of Victoria’s firefighting fleet.
The organisations claim more than 64 per cent of Fire Rescue Victoria’s fleet is over age, along with around 800 CFA trucks. Some appliances are said to be more than 30 years old and described as “not fit for purpose.”
They also allege firefighters and volunteers are increasingly being forced to rely on their own equipment, arguing this shifts unacceptable risk onto those on the frontline.
The letter states this is not only unsafe, but reflects what they describe as a broader failure to adequately invest in essential emergency response capability.
Fuel-reduction burning in the spotlight
The open letter raises further concern about fuel management across Victoria, claiming hazard-reduction burning has halved since 2014, despite government assessments that bushfire risk is now worse than the conditions leading into Black Saturday.
It references the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, which recommended fuel reduction across five per cent of public land each year.
According to the organisations, only around 20 per cent of that target is currently being achieved, meaning the vast majority of the recommended burning program is not being delivered.
The groups argue this has significantly increased the risk profile across the state, particularly in areas where bushland, grassland and residential communities intersect.
Emergency services funding questioned
The organisations are strongly critical of the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, stating firefighters opposed its introduction and arguing it lacks transparency and accountability.
The letter claims the fund has raised an additional $610 million, but says frontline agencies have not seen meaningful improvements in trucks, equipment or station upgrades.
They also raise concerns about the volunteer rebate, claiming up to 20 per cent of volunteers are excluded under current eligibility rules, which they say do not reflect the realities of rural and regional volunteering and have caused frustration among brigades.
Claims emergency services are relying on short-term funding
Another serious claim in the letter is that Victoria’s emergency services are increasingly relying on Treasurer’s Advances to meet core operating requirements.
The organisations reference evidence given to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee in November 2025, which they say indicates agencies are being propped up through short-term financial measures rather than stable base funding.
They describe this approach as unsustainable and argue it reflects a broader failure to properly fund emergency services.
Legal warning issued
The open letter escalates the issue further by stating the risks facing firefighters and the community are “foreseeable and preventable.”
The signatories warn that in the event of serious injury or loss of life, they will seek prosecution under industrial manslaughter provisions of Victoria’s occupational health and safety laws.
The letter concludes by calling for the emergency services tax to be scrapped and for a parliamentary inquiry into the condition of Victoria’s firefighting capability, including appliances, equipment and infrastructure.
What this means for Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula
While the letter is directed at the Victorian Government and framed as a statewide warning, the issues raised have clear relevance for communities across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula.
The region contains a mix of dense urban suburbs, bush-interface areas, coastal scrub, reserves and semi-rural townships. Each summer, local CFA brigades and Fire Rescue Victoria crews respond to grassfires, scrub fires and structural incidents, often under rapidly changing conditions driven by heat, wind and terrain.
The warning issued by the three organisations raises serious questions about how the statewide concerns outlined in the letter could translate into operational pressure on the ground locally as the fire season progresses.
