The AU$69 million Vehicle as a Node (VaaN) project will see Rural Fire Service (RFS) trucks fitted with Starlink terminals, enabling firefighters to use radios, mobile phones and handheld devices anywhere in the state.
The system will also allow crews to livestream video directly from the fire ground, providing command centres with real-time intelligence during emergencies.
RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said overcoming communications black spots was vital to improving safety and coordination on the front line, saying, “Communications black spots are a significant obstacle for rural firefighters and can make an already challenging operation even harder. This new technology greatly enhances our network of brigades across the state and will assist communities when needed,” he said.
The VaaN rollout, delivered in partnership with the NSW Telco Authority, will begin this year and be completed over three years. The technology will act as a backup to existing systems, providing resilience if local towers or infrastructure are damaged during disasters.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the investment would give volunteer firefighters the tools they need when it matters most.
“We are providing our first responders with communications technology they can rely on when they need it most,” he said. “These new trucks and technology upgrades will boost the protection of communities across the state.”
The satellite upgrade comes alongside a broader modernisation of the RFS fleet, with 143 new and 69 refurbished tankers delivered to brigades over the past year. Most of the new trucks have gone to regional and bushfire-prone areas, with the state’s south receiving the largest uplift following the devastating 2019–20 Black Summer fires.
The refurbished vehicles have been fitted with additional safety features, including halo sprinkler systems for crew cabins, heat curtains and portable radio chargers. New trucks are being assembled locally at facilities in Kirrawee, Minto, Tomago and South Windsor to meet the RFS’ strict operational requirements.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the technology and fleet upgrades reflected lessons from past disasters, adding, “We only need to think back to the Black Summer fires to understand how critical our volunteers and their firefighting appliances are, and we will continue to support them with the equipment they need,” he said.
The announcement comes as the Bush Fire Danger Period officially begins in northern NSW, with the statutory fire season for the entire state to start on 1 October.