dbo:abstract
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- The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is a volunteer-based firefighting agency and statutory body of the Government of New South Wales. The NSW RFS is responsible for fire protection to approximately 95% of the land area of New South Wales and the Jervis Bay Territory, while urban areas are the responsibility of Fire and Rescue NSW. The NSW RFS is the primary agency for responding to bushfires in the state. In addition, they respond to structural fires, vehicle fires, motor vehicle accidents and wide range of other emergencies, as well as providing preventative advice to local communities. The NSW RFS is the world's largest volunteer fire service, with 71,234 volunteer members, although this figure includes many inactive volunteer firefighters and all support volunteers. They are organised into 1,994 brigades (local units). As of 30 June 2019, the service employed 936 paid staff who fulfil senior operational management and administrative roles. The agency attends to approximately 30,000 incidents per annum. The agency is led by its Commissioner, Rob Rogers AFSM, who reports to the Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience, currently the Hon. Steph Cooke MP. The NSW Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA) is the official representative association for both Volunteer and Salaried Members of the NSW RFS. In addition to facilitating advocacy at all levels of the RFS the RFSA also provides support for Brigades, Members and their families. The NSW RFS was at the forefront of Australia's worst bushfire outbreak known as Black Summer (2019–20) (en)
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