Career firefighters at 38 CFA stations across Victoria will transition to Fire Rescue Victoria tomorrow, with the CFA to become a fully volunteer-based fire service.
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Bendigo fire station volunteers are now known as members of the Bendigo Fire Brigade.
Brigade chairman George Flack said the FRV will be assigned to major structural fires.
"The Bendigo Fire Brigade, which is entirely volunteer run, will assist in taking care of grass fires and the like," Mr Flack said.
Both brigades will continue to occupy the fire station in their new roles for at least another year, before moving to Murphy Street while the current station is demolished.
FRV has replaced the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and will work in both urban and major regional centres.
The state's fire services boundaries will be changed to bring outer suburban Melbourne areas under the control of FRV.
Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan said the role of the CFA as a volunteer organisation is enshrined in legislation, protecting Victoria's 1220 CFA volunteer brigades.
"There has been a huge amount of consultation and listening to the voices of volunteers," Ms Allan said.
"A $126 million support package for CFA volunteers will help with equipment, uniforms and additional training.
"This allows the CFA to continue to become an even stronger volunteer organisation."
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Nick Wakeling said the government's changes disempower CFA volunteers.
"CFA volunteers risk their lives to keep our community safe but the Premier couldn't care less about them," Mr Wakeling said.
"He is more interested in looking after his union mates when he should be prioritising community safety.
"These changes leave the community at risk."
Fire Rescue Victoria will operate 85 stations across Victoria and support volunteer response where required.
FRV will serve metropolitan Melbourne and regional centres, including Bendigo, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mr Flack said nine volunteer drivers would be trained to deploy Bendigo Fire Brigade's lone tanker.
"All volunteers will also be required to attend the station to be conveyed to incidents either in the tanker or a brigade-owned vehicle, instead of attending in their own vehicles," he said.
