Another 142 firefighters have joined the ranks of Fire and Rescue NSW, bolstering fire protection in communities across the state. The 40 Permanent firefighters and 102 on-call personnel have completed induction and training programs, developing operational, technical and teamwork skills for their new roles. In addition to their specialised proficiencies, recruits were assessed on their physical readiness, judgement, teamwork and communication abilities. The graduation is one of five planned by FRNSW this year, with 20 classes of recruits planned for 2026. FRNSW recently closed its annual Permanent firefighter recruitment campaign, with almost five-thousand people applying for positions. Another recent campaign for additional on-call or retained firefighters generated 965 expressions of interest, a 21 per cent increase on 2024/25. This follows a record recruiting year for FRNSW in 2025 when 648 Permanent and On-call firefighters joined the service. Quotes attributed to Acting FRNSW commissioner, Michael Morris: “I congratulate these men and women for completing the challenging training processes, and I share their excitement as they report to their first fire stations for duty. “In addition to fires during their permanent and on-call careers, they will deal with a diverse range of emergencies, from road crashes to floods and natural disasters; from medical emergencies to hazardous materials incidents. “As recruits, they have received tremendous advice from their trainers, and the education they’ll get in the future will ensure they’re prepared for anything.” Among the graduates are five former teachers, eight life savers/lifeguards and seven carpenters. Also graduating are: • a radio announcer • former police officer • real estate agent • former professional triathlete/clinical psychologist • scientist • nurse • a former British army major who once enrolled in a special forces selection course. One firefighter has climbed Huayna Potosi, one of Bolivia’s tallest mountains, whilst another has scaled Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Many of the graduates have joined FRNSW’s permanent ranks after roles as on-call or Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters.
