News

Young cohort of recruits future-proof local CFAs

By Benalla Ensign

Aug 17, 2026

CFA brigades in north-east Victoria have signed up 494 new recruits since January, 2026.

CFA has welcomed an additional boost of 1500 recruits into brigades across Victoria since January, further enhancing its capacity to respond to emergencies this fire season.

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Kicking off in March, CFA’s annual Give us a Hand recruitment campaign gave brigades the opportunity to call out to local residents or to re-engage with those who have been considering joining in the past to express their interest in making a difference to their community.

Following a challenging and devastating fire season, CFA was thankful for the encouraging number of Victorians who put themselves forward to play a role in protecting their communities.

Of the recruits, 983 are between the ages of 18 and 34, 483 are women and 1222 will become operational firefighters.

Nearly 300 members have also put their hand up to assist brigades in highly valued support roles.

North-east Victoria saw 494 new volunteers over the age of 18.

Elsewhere in the state, 302 Victorians have joined CFA brigades in the South East, 204 in the South West, 364 in the north-west and another 144 in the West.

If you’re interested in joining CFA or learning more about volunteering, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer/