Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers is a familiar face in the region.
The RFS announced that he will retire at the end of the coming bushfire season early next year, after almost five years leading the RFS.
Mr Rogers said “it has been a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated individuals.”
“The resilience and spirit of our 70,000-plus members inspire me every day and I am confident that they will continue to uphold the values of courage and service that define the RFS.”
Mr Rogers has been a member of the RFS for 45 years since becoming a volunteer member of the Belrose Rural Fire Brigade in 1979.
He was appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2011 and Commissioner in July 2020.
He was there and played a pivotal role in the response to the 2019-20 bushfires.
As Commissioner, he has led the transformation of the RFS, introducing innovations such as the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, Artificial Intelligence, enhanced community safety through new Bush Fire Risk Management Plans, technological advancement and improved personal protection for volunteers, and world class aerial firefighting capabilities.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib thanked the Commissioner for his service.
“While championing the independence of the organisation and its history, the Commissioner has also demonstrated how emergency services can work together through support for the SES during the 2022 floods and his work with other emergency service agencies,” Mr Dib said.
“He has stood with firefighters through some of the most challenging bush fire seasons the state has seen.”
The information in this story was provided by the office of the Minister for Emergency Services.
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