The head of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has responded to claims by a former group captain about a lack of communication and red tape, particularly surrounding the Green Valley blaze during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

John Hawkins recently tendered his resignation as Group 7 Captain, claiming that he had been told by his RFS manager that his group vehicle was to be taken off him, with no replacement available.

The Group 7 region comprises the brigades of Jingellic, Lankeys Creek, Little Billabong, Carabost, Talmalmo, Mt Wagra and Wantagong and includes 95 per cent of the Woomarga.

Mr Hawkins’ wife, Alison, had forwarded concerns about the RFS to the state government and local media outlets.

Mr Hawkins, a 20-year volunteer firefighter, said the request to return his vehicle was the last straw in a series of issues he had with the RFS.

However, RFS Commissioner, Bob Rogers, said that he had been “explicitly advised” Mr Hawkins would receive a Toyota HiLux as a replacement vehicle.

In his response to Mrs Hawkins, he also said “Despite both Deputy Commissioner Peter McKechnie AFSM and me earlier outlining the challenges of managing the extraordinary amount of fire in the landscape across broad areas of the state at the time of the Green Valley fire, it is clear that neither you nor Mr Hawkins can accept that the fire was managed and available resources allocated in the best manner possible, given the extremity of the conditions.

“Mr Hawkins has had several opportunities to put forward his views about the management of the fire including through a survey, debriefs and community forums.

“While many firefighters no doubt would have welcomed the opportunity to participate, the number of witnesses called to give evidence in the coronial hearings into the Black Summer fires was a decision for the coroner.

“Your statement that RFS is ‘incompetent, with no accountability, no idea, no care and a massive waste of money to your government and taxpayers’ is a slight on our members including staff and particularly the South West Area Command and Southern Border District staff who work hard to support local members and their communities.”

Commissioner Rogers added that Albury region Superintendent, Andrew Gray, had thanked Mr Hawkins for his service and had also given advice to him about support that is available.

Related story: Fire officer pulls pin over loss of vehicle

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 6 June 2024.