As summer approaches, the thud of heavy duty boots and the whir of high powered machinery echoes throughout Dixon’s Creek.
It’s the second week of the annual Seasonal Firefighter Training Camp, one of several running across the state to prepare over 500 seasonal firefighters for the months ahead.
As Victoria heads into another potentially dangerous bushfire season, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic)’s training is as rigorous as ever.
The two-week training scheme combines theory with intensive, hands-on drills. Participants are trained in everything from radio communication and fireline safety to equipment use, driving, and chainsaw operations.
Map reading and navigation as well as health and fitness awareness training, and aircraft safety are also a part of the training scheme.
Taking place at the Yarra Valley Estate over a period of two weeks, the training program is designed to fast-track learning, equipping new firefighters to join the ranks of the state’s firefighting force by the end of November.
Dan White, District Manager for the Metro District in the Portfield region, confirmed that the program is an essential part of Victoria’s fire readiness.
“Forest Fire Management Victoria is gearing up for the summer. Every year, we recruit seasonal firefighters to support our permanent staff to help protect communities and the environment during the fire season,” Mr White said.
One of the first lessons involves the fire table, a miniature landscape simulation that demonstrates how fire behaves when it encounters slopes, wind changes, and varying fuel loads.
Mr White said, “It’s a simple but powerful way for new firefighters to understand how fire moves uphill and how vegetation affects its intensity.”
After completing the camp, recruits will spend several weeks refining their skills, including chainsaw and four-wheel drive training, before being assigned to depots across Victoria.
By late November, they’ll be on the ground clearing access tracks, maintaining fuel breaks, and preparing recreation areas for the summer.
This year’s 2025 Yarra Valley camp is a partnership between Forest Fire Management Victoria, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, and traditional owner groups including the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people.
Mr White said, “We work closely with these organisations throughout the fire season,”
“It’s really exciting to have everyone training side-by-side, sharing skills and perspectives,” he said.
Recruitment for the new seasonal firefighters occurs every July, with FFMVic launching its statewide recruitment drive for seasonal firefighters.
The campaign attracts hundreds of applicants eager to play a role in protecting Victoria’s natural landscapes.
Tamara Beckett from FFMVic’s recruitment and training team, said the seasonal workforce is a crucial part of the organisation’s summer operations.
“Each year we recruit around 500 seasonal firefighters,” Ms Beckett said.
The seasonal recruits work alongside FFMVic’s permanent staff and can be deployed anywhere in the state, depending on fire activity and conditions.
Ms Beckett said, “Our staff are well trained to assess each situation.”
“The strategy we use depends on the fire’s size, location, weather, and proximity to communities and assets,” she said.
While aerial firefighting tools like helicopters attract public attention, Tamara stressed that people on the ground remain the backbone of Victoria’s fire response.
“There’s no substitute for human intelligence,” she said. “Firefighters adapt in real time to what they see on the ground which is something the aircraft simply can’t do.”
Ms Beckett also emphasised the importance of community responsibility.
“There’s only so much we as public land managers can do,” Ms Beckett said.
“Residents in bushfire-prone areas need to manage their properties and have a fire plan.”
As the new recruits prepare to deploy, both Mr White and Ms Beckett share a common message: fire preparedness is everyone’s responsibility.
“Our teams are trained, ready, and committed, but the best way to protect communities is for everyone to be prepared and that includes not only our firefighters, but also our residents in high-risk areas,” Mr White said.
With hundreds of new faces joining the firefighting effort this year, Victoria is once again reinforcing its first line of defence. The men and women on the ground.
