Aerial firefighting is a critical capability for Australian fire services.
The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) was formed in 2003 by the Australian states and territories, with the support of the Australian Government, to provide a cooperative national arrangement for the provision of aerial firefighting resources.
Sharing highly specialised aircraft between the northern and southern hemisphere fire seasons makes good sense, ensuring maximum use of the aircraft and reducing costs. It is logical and cost effective to lease rather than purchase the larger firefighting aircraft that are shared between hemispheres. Leasing also offers greater flexibility to adjust resourcing levels to the forecast risk and to introduce technological advancements.
NAFC facilitates the sharing of these aerial firefighting resources between states and territories during the fire season. This ensures the optimum use of scarce, specialised resources and provides firefighters with valuable access to surge capacity.
The Australian Government provides $26 million annually to the NAFC, who then work closely with state and territory experts to manage operations, including decisions on aircraft, leases and deployments. NAFC capability complements a range of other firefighting aircraft that states and territories acquire and manage independently.
On 5 September 2021, the Australian Government announced the addition of a Large Air Tanker to Australia’s existing firefighting capability, through an additional annual $4 million boost to the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.
NAFC is an excellent example of cooperation between state and territory governments and the Australian Government to achieve the best outcome for the community and provide the best possible support for firefighters. This successful and proven model has resulted in a significant increase in aerial firefighting capacity to support firefighters across the country.
The collaborative arrangements for the national aerial firefighting fleet have been instrumental in saving lives and property over past bushfire seasons.