WONTHAGGI is one of 24 CFA brigades that are trained and ready to respond to select medical Triple Zero calls as part of a new CFA medical response program.
The new Fire Medical Response program is a joint initiative of CFA and Ambulance Victoria that will see CFA brigades and Ambulance Victoria dispatched simultaneously to cardiac arrests.
By mid-2026 50 CFA brigades will be undertaking the program, including Horsham, Orbost, Lakes Entrance, Huntly, Yarrawonga, Beechworth, Kerang, Echuca, Swan Hill and many more.
Wonthaggi Brigade Captain Arnaud Marion said the decision to join the program was an easy one to make given the benefits it will provide the Wonthaggi community.
“What this program means is that community members who call for an ambulance may receive both a fire truck and an ambulance. There is no specific order in which the services arrive to the incident.”
Wonthaggi has been training with Ambulance Victoria for months, in preparation for the program which will complement the Ambulance Victoria service in the local area.
CFA Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook said the program was a natural fit for CFA because of the 52,000 volunteers across the state.
“CFA has more than 1100 volunteer fire stations with more than 52,000 members,” Garry said.
“This puts CFA in a unique position to complement the Ambulance Victoria response in 50 locations across Victoria to help deliver early intervention to cardiac arrests.”
Ambulance Victoria Executive Director of Regional Operations, Danielle North, said Victoria’s cardiac survival rates are one of the best in the world, thanks to high rates of early intervention.
“The Fire Medical Response program will improve survival rates for people in rural and regional Victoria,” Danielle said.
“Quick intervention with CPR and a defibrillator has the greatest impact on improving a patient’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.
The local Fire Medical Response program will go live towards the end of the month and comes as new data shows an increase of Code 1 call outs for paramedics across the state.
The data that shows more than 100 extra Code One cases each day since April has prompted an urgent call from Ambulance Victoria for people to save ambulances for life-threatening emergencies.
There are many ways to get health advice and care outside of Triple Zero (000),
including:
• Victorian Virtual Emergency Department: 24/7 free online access to emergency doctors and nurses via vved.org.au
• Urgent Care Clinics: GP-led care for urgent but non-emergency issues.
• NURSE-ON-CALL: Free advice from a registered nurse 24/7: 1300 606 024
• A local GP or pharmacist.
If you or someone you’re with is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
