- Published by:
- Fire Services Implementation Monitor
- Date:
- 19 Dec 2025
Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) have provided their quarterly fire service performance updates for the quarter 1, 2025–26 reporting period (1 July to 30 September 2025) to the Fire Services Implementation Monitor (FSIM).
In this quarter, FRV reported on its Year 5 outcomes framework for the first time. CFA reported on 26 indicators and FRV reported on 50 measures.
The FSIM has reported on select results based on the following criteria:
Demonstrates a notable achievement
- CFA: An increase in the number of community members engaging with CFA (indicator 1.2.1)
- CFA: Road accident rescue response times meeting benchmark (indicator 2.4.1)
- CFA: An increase in hazard reporting within CFA locations (YTD) (indicator 3.1.1)
- FRV: Percentage of response times to EMR within 9.2 minutes (90%) (measure 11.1.ii)
Continuing off-track trend over repeated quarters
- FRV: Percentage of response times within the FRV district within FRV benchmark (YTD) to structure fire incidents within 7.7 minutes (measure 11.1.i).
Significant change from the baseline or previous comparable quarter (undesirable outcome)
- CFA: Increase in homes with operational smoke alarms (indicator 2.3.6)
FSIM acknowledges CFA and FRV for their ongoing cooperation and active contribution to FSIM’s monitoring and reporting activities.
2. Outcomes framework Q1 results
The Fire Services Implementation Monitor’s analysis of select results from Q1 2025–26 fire services performance measures.
2.1 Demonstrates a notable achievement
Summary of notable achievements recorded by CFA and FRV this quarter.
2.2 Continuing off-track trend over repeated quarters
Summary of outcome measures that represent an off-track trend over repeated quarters.
2.3 Significant change from the baseline or previous comparable quarter (undesirable outcome)
Summary of outcome indicators that recorded a significant change from the baseline or previous comparable quarter.
2.1 Demonstrates a notable achievement
CFA: An increase in the number of community members engaging with CFA
Whilst the FSIM notes that this measure is seasonal, with quarters 2 and 3 generally reflecting higher baselines and results, it deems CFA has demonstrated a notable achievement during this reporting period against its baseline and relative to Q1 of previous years.
CFA reported that 25,585 community members engaged with CFA in Q1 2025–26, against a baseline of 14,844. This result is a 72% increase above the baseline for this quarter.
Figure 1: Number of community members engaged with CFA.
CFA: Road accidents rescue response times meeting benchmark (target 90%)
CFA reported that 41 incidents were attended by accredited road accident rescue brigades in Q1 2025–26, with 39 of these responses occurring within CFA time benchmarks. CFA has consistently exceeded the sector target of 90%, since this indicator was reported on from Q2 2024–25.
Figure 2: Road accident rescue response times meeting benchmark (target 90%).
CFA: Increase in hazard reporting within CFA locations (YTD)
CFA reported a result of 115 in hazard reporting for Q1 2025–26, which is an increase of 59.72% against the baseline. The result for this quarter is also an 11.66% increase on Q1 2024–25. CFA advised the Q1 2025–26 result can be partly attributed to Section 29 annual inspections, which commenced in July 2025.
Figure 3: Increase in hazard reporting within CFA locations (YTD)
FRV: Percentage of response times to EMR within 9.2 minutes (90%)
FRV reported a 95.28% response time to EMR within the target benchmark of 9.2 minutes for Q1 2025–26. FRV has consistently exceeded the target benchmark of 90% since this measure was first reported on in 2020–21.
Figure 4: Percentage of EMR response times within the benchmark of 9.2 minutes
2.2 Continuing off-track trend over repeated quarters
FRV: Percentage of response to structure fire incidents within 7.7 minutes (target 90%)
FRV’s result for this measure in Q1 in 2025–26 represents the 20th consecutive quarter where the benchmark of 90% has not been met. The Q1 2025–26 result of 87.43% was a 0.87% decrease on the Q4 2024–25 result of 88.20%.
Q1 of 2020–21 was the last quarter when this benchmark was achieved (indicated in red in Figure 5).
Figure 5: Percentage of response to structure fire incidents within 7.7 minutes
2.3 Significant change from the baseline or previous comparable quarter (undesirable outcome)
CFA: Increase in homes with operational smoke alarms
CFA reported 214 homes received a smoke alarm installation service during Q1 2025–26. This is a drop of 14.74% against its baseline of 251. The FSIM notes in comparison the strong results in Q1 2023–24 and Q1 2024–25, where CFA exceeded the respective baselines (and which has contributed to a higher baseline
this year).
While the Q1 2025–26 baseline was not met, CFA noted that the Q1 result is good progress on its annual target of 500 homes. CFA also advised that the variation for Q1 results in previous years can be explained by factors including the availability of resources (budget, people, smoke alarms) and other concurrent activities. In
some years, Q4 figures will be higher due to increased activity, while in other years, more activity may be concentrated in Q1.
Figure 6: Number of homes with operational smoke alarms
3. Reader guide
Definitions
| Acronym | Title |
|---|---|
| CFA | Country Fire Authority |
| EMR | Emergency Medical Response |
| FRV | Fire Rescue Victoria |
| FSIM | Fire Services Implementation Monitor |
4. Appendix A: CFA’s Q1 2025–26 outcomes progress report
This is CFA’s outcomes progress report for Q1 2025–26. This progress report includes results against CFA’s quarterly outcome indicators.
5. Appendix B: FRV’s Q1 2025–26 outcomes progress report
This is FRV’s outcomes progress report for Q1 2025–26. This progress report includes results against FRV’s quarterly outcome measures.