New South Wales is divided into four regions and subdivided into rural fire districts which are based on local government boundaries.

Regional centres are located in:

• Sydney Olympic Park (Region East)
• Grafton (Region North)
• Batemans Bay (Region South)
• Young (Region West)

Download the RFS Statewide Map to find out what Region you are in.

Region East

By virtue of its size, geography and demographics, Region East provides the RFS with its greatest challenge in its mission to protect life, property and the environment.

The Region encompasses the densely populated Sydney basin, the coastal zones north to Port Macquarie and south to Kiama, and stretches inland to Bathurst, Muswellbrook and Merriwa.

Containing major industrial, commercial and residential zones and areas of significant natural beauty, the region is vital to the NSW economy.

These factors also make it subject to a broad range of fire risks.

Statistics*:

• Districts = 34 
• Zones = 10
• Brigades = 486
• Volunteers = 20,222
• Full-time staff = 187
• Area = 52,576km2

* 2004-2005 Annual Report Figures

Contact:

Regional Manager Chief Superintendent John Parnaby
Level 2, 6-8 Parkview Avenue 
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
 
Tel: (02) 8741 5555
Fax: (02) 8741 5550

Region North

Popular coastal tourist areas from Coffs Harbour to the Tweed Shire and the large inland cities of Tamworth and Armidale make up Region North.

The Region’s rural centres include Narrabri, Gunnedah, Inverell and Moree.

High summer rainfall generally produces moderate bushfire seasons.

Its diverse topography and vegetation include cropping and flat grassland, coastal heath, mountainous, dry sclerophyll and rainforest.

Parks and conservation areas protect remote, rugged forest and other natural and cultural assets.

Ninety-seven per cent of the region is gazetted as rural fire district.

The busy Newell, New England and Pacific Highways bisect the area.

Statistics*:

• Districts = 31 
• Zones = 9
• Brigades = 658 
• Volunteers = 15,982
• Full-time staff = 87 
• Area = 157,170km2

* 2004-2005 Annual Report figures

Contact:

Level 4, State Office Block
Victoria Street
Grafton NSW 2460

Tel: (02) 6643 2512
Fax: (02) 6643 2515

Region South

Regarded as fire prone by world standards, this region takes in the South Coast, Southern Tablelands and the western areas of the Riverina.

The Region covers all of the NSW/Victoria border, surrounds the ACT and includes areas such as the Bega Valley, the Snowy River and Wagga Wagga.

Traditionally, the annual bushfire season begins along the coast in spring and closes in the Riverina in autumn.

Fire managers are mindful of heavy concentrations of native and plantation forests, fragile coastal heath communities, alpine pastures and sweeping plains of crops and natural rangelands.

Statistics*:

• Districts = 32 
• Zones = 11
• Brigades = 483 
• Volunteers = 18,767
• Full-time staff = 91 
• Area = 169,115km2

*2004-2005 Annual Report figures

Contact:

Regional Manager, Chief Superintendent Ken Hall
7 Kylie Crescent
Batemans Bay NSW 2536

Tel: (02) 4475 1300
Fax: (02) 4472 4401

Region West

Rural firefighters provide protection to 98 per cent of Region West, which covers almost 53 percent of NSW, from Mudgee in the east to the South Australian border in the west.

The Region has a variety of landscapes from the hilly, timbered tablelands in the east to the vast western plains.

Major rivers are the Lachlan, Murray and Darling and transport routes include the Newell and Hume Highways and Great Southern Rail Line.

The most significant risks are grass and bushland fires, although transport incidents are becoming more frequent.

Statistics*:

• Districts = 31 
• Zones = 9
• Brigades = 576 
• Volunteers = 15,993
• Full-time staff = 64 
• Area = 422,614km2

* 2004-2005 Annual Report figures

Contact:

Regional Manager Paul Smith
Shop 3 Lovell Pl, Lovell St
Young NSW 2594

Tel: (02) 6382 5677
Fax: (02) 6382 1731