Australian Capital Territory Numbered Acts

EMERGENCIES AMENDMENT ACT 2016 (NO. 33 OF 2016) - SECT 19

substitute

Division 4.2.1     Fire and rescue service

43     Establishment of fire and rescue service

The ACT Fire and Rescue Service is established.

44     Functions of fire and rescue service

    (1)     The main function of the fire and rescue service is to protect and preserve life, property and the environment from fire in built-up areas.

    (2)     In exercising the function, the fire and rescue service is responsible for—

        (a)     operational planning for fire response in built-up areas, including fire preparedness; and

        (b)     fire response in built-up areas.

    (3)     The fire and rescue service has the following additional functions:

        (a)     to respond to and deal with hazardous material incidents;

        (b)     to respond to rescue incidents;

        (c)     to respond to chemical, biological and radiological incidents;

        (d)     to undertake assistance operations to support other entities in the exercise of their functions under this Act;

        (e)     any other function prescribed by regulation.

Example—par (d)

assisting police officers or ambulance service members in dealing with any incident or emergency

Note     An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act

, s 126 and s 132).

    (4)     The fire and rescue service may also—

        (a)     respond to a fire in a rural area; and

        (b)     provide first response to any other incident to which another emergency service may respond under this Act, if the emergency service is unavailable.

45     Constitution of fire and rescue service

The fire and rescue service consists of—

        (a)     the chief officer (fire and rescue service); and

        (b)     the deputy chief officer (fire and rescue service); and

        (c)     other members of the fire and rescue service; and

        (d)     any volunteer members.

46     Ranks for fire and rescue service members

The chief officer (fire and rescue service) may give members of the fire and rescue service various ranks in accordance with the standards and protocols for the fire and rescue service.