Community Fire Units

Introduction to Community Fire Units

Community Fire Units (CFUs) are teams of local volunteers who live near bushland areas across the ACT and play a vital role in protecting their communities during bushfire events. Trained and equipped by ACT Fire & Rescue, CFU members help safeguard homes by preparing their properties and surrounding areas and by taking early action during a bushfire until professional fire services arrive.

Using basic firefighting equipment such as pumps, hoses, and protective clothing, CFU volunteers focus on reducing the risk of fire spreading from adjacent bushland into residential areas. A typical CFU consists of 8 to 30 members and is responsible for a defined area covering approximately 50 to 80 homes.

The program places strong emphasis on bushfire education, prevention, and preparation, including understanding fire behaviour, maintaining safe gardening, and housekeeping practices, developing bushfire plans, operating firefighting equipment, and carrying out mop-up operations. While CFU members are part of ACT Fire & Rescue and operate under the direction of ACTF&R officers, they are not firefighters.

Established in late 2003 following a successful pilot of eight units, the CFU program has grown significantly and now includes 44 units in high-risk bushfire areas, supported by around 500 dedicated volunteers across the ACT.
 

Working with the community

An ACT Fire and Rescue preparedness initiative