Rob Rogers endorsed as RFS Commissioner

Following the departure of Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons from the NSW RFS earlier this year and at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, Rob Rogers was appointed RFS Commissioner for a period of 12 months until a proper recruitment process could take place.

Joining as a volunteer in 1979 in the Belrose Rural Fire Brigade, Mr Rogers has a decorated career within the RFS, holding a number of senior leadership roles including regional management, community safety and operations.

“Rob is truly a veteran of the RFS. From his seat on the ‘Belrose Blitz’ to the Commissioner’s chair – the community has benefitted from Rob’s leadership in action over successive fire seasons.

“His leadership was integral in the procurement of the State’s 737 Large Air Tanker, the ‘Marie Bashir’, a $26.3 million Government investment making NSW the only State in the country to have its own permanent Large Air Tanker.”

NSW has hit the ground running gearing up for the next bushfire season, with more than $45 million in additional funding already announced to fast-track hazard reduction and upgrades to firefighting capability.

“We’ve been working in lockstep with Rob Rogers and the RFS to ensure the State is as prepared as it can be to face disaster again this bushfire season,” Mr Elliott said.

On top of a record firefighting budget, this funding boost includes $10.7 million for additional State Mitigation Crews to fast-track hazard reduction as well a $34.4 million investment to upgrade the RFS fleet.