Funding for bush fire brigades and State Emergency Service (SES) units is allocated via a grants process where local governments apply for an operating grant and a capital grant for each service.
Capital grants include acquiring new firefighting appliances, vehicles and buildings.
Operating grants fund essential costs such as running vehicles and buildings, protective equipment, volunteer insurance and operational consumables.
Operating grants are paid to local governments annually in July, October, January and April in equal quarterly instalments.
Local governments determine how to allocate and spend their operating grant in consultation with their brigades.
FESA has no direct role in such decisions, other than to provide specialist advice and support.
For further information on the local government operating and capital grants system, please refer to the official manual.
Emergency Vehicle Specification Catalogues and Facility "Footprint" Designs
To assist local governments applying for capital grant funding, a catalogue of the bush fire brigade fire appliances and SES vehicles, trailers and boats and facility "Footprint" designs are available under the grants scheme is below.
Click here for Facility "Footprint" Designs
Previous ESL grant allocations to local governments
A list of grant allocations to local governments for previous years is available below.
Operational management of bush fire brigades and SES units.
The ESL was a funding system change only. Local governments continue to run and manage bush fire brigades and, where applicable, SES units.
The ESL has not changed the infrastructure or operational arrangements that apply to bush fire brigades as set out in the Bush Fires Act 1954.
Under the provisions of the Act, responsibility for fire prevention and fire suppression rests with local governments.
$750,000 Lotterywest grant scheme for ESL funded volunteers
FESA volunteer groups who are eligible for the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) are also eligible to apply for additional funding under a $750,000 Lotterywest grant scheme.
The grant scheme, introduced in 2009, will be available for three years covering non essential items not already funded by the ESL.
Grants are available to volunteer Fire and Rescue Service stations, local government Bush Fire Brigades (BFB), volunteer State Emergency Services (SES) units, Volunteer Emergency Service units and Volunteer Fire Service (VFS) brigades.
Eligible volunteer groups who would like to apply for funding must complete a Lotterywest application form available on the grants page of www.lotterywest.wa.gov.au
Applications should be between $1,000 and $5,000. Bush fire brigade applications must be approved by the relevant local government/shire representative before submission.
For more information please call FESA Stakeholder Relations Coordinator Merv Austic on 9479 9321.